Headline Roundup • July 6th, 2023
Fact Check: Trump Claims White House Cocaine Belongs to Biden Family
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Former President Donald Trump speculated in a post on Truth Social that the cocaine found inside the White House belonged to President Biden and his son Hunter. Is there any evidence to back up this claim?
Who was at the White House? Reports indicate neither Joe nor Hunter Biden were at the White House when the cocaine was discovered by the Secret Service.
Where Was It Found? Initially, it was reported the cocaine was found in the White House library, citing a radio dispatch. The Secret Service later stated it was actually found “inside a work area.” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, “Where this was discovered is a heavily traveled area where many White House – West Wing, I should be even more specific – West Wing visitors come through this particular area.” Jean-Pierre also stated that tours took place over the weekend. Politico (Lean Left bias) reported it was found in a “cubby area for storing electronics… where many people have authorized access, including staff or visitors.”
Security Footage? Trump also claimed that security footage from inside the White House would quickly identify who the cocaine belonged to, stating in another post on Truth Social, “They already know the answer, but probably don’t like it!” An anonymous source quoted in Politico's coverage stated, “Even if there were surveillance cameras, unless you were waving it around, it may not have been caught. It’s a bit of a thoroughfare. People walk by there all the time.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
Via Anadolu Agency/Contributor, Getty Images
On July 2, 2023, a "suspicious powder" was found inside the White House. Tests later showed the powder was cocaine, according to reputable news publications.
After that news broke, social media posts about the discovery rapidly spread, with various degrees of legitimacy. We found posts on Twitter, Reddit, TikTok, and Facebook making various claims about where the illicit substance was found and to whom it allegedly belonged. For instance, the below-displayed post claimed the cocaine was found in an area often occupied by U.S. President Joe Biden, while other posts asserted that the drug was left...
SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
The White House was evacuated earlier this week after cocaine was discovered in the West Wing, leading to wild speculation as to who the drugs may have belonged to.
The substance was discovered by members of the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service conducting routine rounds through the building, Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service, told Newsweek.
A source familiar with the investigation told Newsweek that the substance was discovered inside a "work area" of the West Wing.
In audio footage, logged on a site called openmhz.com, a...
Joe and Hunter Biden /Getty Images
Claim: The Secret Service is unlikely to identify the person who left a bag of cocaine at the White House over the weekend.
Who said it: Politico, citing an unidentified law enforcement official "familiar with the investigation."
Context: One of the most secure buildings in the world was temporarily evacuated Sunday following the discovery of a small bag of cocaine on the premises. The Secret Service said Wednesday an investigation is underway to find the culprit. But an anonymous source with knowledge of the probe is working the press to...
