Former President Donald Trump’s supporters found themselves caught in a whirlwind of misinformation on Friday, as they fell prey to a fabricated story alleging a medical emergency involving President Joe Biden aboard Air Force One.
Despite no evidence to support the claim, prominent figures within the MAGA sphere, including Monica Crowley, Laura Loomer, and Dinesh D’Souza, propagated the false narrative on social media platforms.
Loomer, known for her platform “Loomer Unleashed,” tweeted, “Joe Biden is reportedly having a medical emergency on Air Force One right now,” igniting a wave of speculation among her followers. Echoing her sentiments, Crowley and D’Souza similarly spread the unsubstantiated rumor.
The false report even caught the attention of influential figures like Elon Musk and Republican Senator Mike Lee, who reacted to the misinformation. Musk responded with surprise (“!!”), while Senator Lee raised speculative concerns, tweeting, “If Biden is having a medical emergency at this moment…that raises … a lot of questions.”
Setting the record straight, White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates swiftly debunked the hoax, affirming that the report was “100% false.”
Contrary to the claims, photos and videos emerged showing President Biden disembarking Air Force One in apparent good health. Additionally, a White House pool report documented Biden’s motorcade stopping outside his Wilmington residence around 7:50 p.m., further contradicting the hoax.
Criticism mounted against the purveyors of the false information, with journalist Yashar Ali dismissing them, stating, “If Joe Biden were having a medical emergency on Air Force One you would not be finding out from Laura Loomer and Monica Crowley.”
Others chimed in, urging caution and skepticism in sourcing news, emphasizing the importance of credible information.
“Stop getting your news from random clowns on here,” wrote “@AGHamilton29. “Here is Biden arriving in Delaware via Forbes. He isn’t on Air Force One. There is no evidence of a medical emergency.”
“No he isn’t,” wrote @stclairashley. “Stop repeating this garbage and then wondering why people call you a conspiracy peddler.”
Conservative commentator Erick Erickson chastised those who spread the hoax, advising, “All of you convinced there was a medical emergency on Air Force One should rethink where you get your news from.”
