A photo shows Gov. Gretchen Whitmer “on Mackinaw Island today ignoring mask and social distancing rules.”
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No, this photo doesn’t show Gretchen Whitmer breaking social distancing rules
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- The photo doesn’t show Gretchen Whitmer breaking social distancing rules
- It came from Whitmer's campaign when she was running for governor in October 2018
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has enraged some residents with the restrictions she has implemented to slow the spread of the coronavirus — rules that a recent Facebook post suggests she isn’t even following.
"Gov. Twitmer on Mackinaw Island today ignoring mask and social distancing rules," reads the caption on an image of Whitmer standing within a couple of feet of two men without a face mask. "Share before it’s taken down!!!"
This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
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That’s because the photo is more than a year old. It doesn’t show Whitmer violating social distancing orders on Mackinac (spelled with a C, but pronounced mack-in-aw). It came from Whitmer’s campaign when she was running for governor in 2018. The Oakland Press, which ran the picture alongside a Q&A with Whitmer in October 2018, said in the caption that it shows her "speaking to Michigan residents while on the campaign trail."
We rate this Facebook post False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, May 24, 2020
The Oakland Press, Election 2018: Gretchen Whitmer Q&A, Oct. 31, 2018
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No, this photo doesn’t show Gretchen Whitmer breaking social distancing rules
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