“Biden’s teleprompter told him to ‘LEAVE NOW’ when his speech was concluded.”
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Doctored photo of Biden’s teleprompter shared online
If Your Time is short
- This is a doctored image. The president's teleprompter didn't say "leave now."
On Aug. 16, President Joe Biden addressed the nation about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
"May God protect our troops," he said in conclusion, "our diplomats, and all brave Americans serving in harm’s way."
Biden then walked away from the podium as reporters shouted questions behind him. An image of his teleprompter around that moment is being shared on social media but it’s been doctored to look like it said "leave now" after the last line of his speech.
"Biden’s teleprompter told him to ‘LEAVE NOW’ when his speech was concluded," one post sharing the image said.
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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.)
You can see what the teleprompter actually looked like at that moment in this video published by the Washington Post. It occurs about 80 minutes in. It doesn’t say "leave now." Rather, there are three pound signs — ### — indicating the end of the text.
We rate this post False.
Our Sources
Instagram post, Aug. 16, 2021
The New York Times, Read the full transcript of President Biden’s remarks on Afghanistan, aug. 16, 2021
NBC News, Full speech: President Biden addresses nation on Afghanistan, Aug. 16, 2021
The Washington Post, Biden addresses nation on Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Aug. 16, 2021
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Doctored photo of Biden’s teleprompter shared online
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