Headline Roundup • August 23rd, 2023
Biden Did Not Fall Asleep at Maui Event, Video Shows
Joe Biden,Disaster,Wildfires,Hawaii Wildfires,Gerontocracy,Facts And Fact Checking,Misinformation And Disinformation
Summary from the AllSides News Team
A blurry video led some to incorrectly believe President Joe Biden fell asleep at an event in Maui.
The Details: Social media users circulated the video (link) on social media, with some, including the RNC, suggesting the video showed Biden falling asleep. C-SPAN video (link) of the event shows Biden bowing his head for a few seconds while his eyes remain open.
For Context: The video fed into narratives, particularly among Biden’s opponents, that his age makes him less aware and less fit to serve as president; The Post Millennial (Lean Right bias) called the story “a new display that really is quite familiar.” Biden also received criticism when he said he had “no comment” about the Maui fires on August 13. Biden and first lady Jill Biden left their vacation in Lake Tahoe to visit Maui on Monday.
How the Media Covered It: Many left- and center-rated fact-checkers moved to debunk the claim that Biden fell asleep. Some right-rated sources first reported that Biden appeared to fall asleep, before updating their coverage later. The Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) added a correction to its story stating that the previous version "did not include C-SPAN footage that showed President Joe Biden with his eyes open."
Featured Coverage of this Story
MANDEL NGAN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
President Joe Biden's response to the wildfires in Maui, which have claimed the lives of at least 115 people, has been roundly criticized by conservatives who claim he has not behaved appropriately following the disaster.
Biden had been attacked for an initial "no comment" after being asked about the death toll, and faced further scrutiny at a community event on Monday for making a joke that appeared to compare the deadly blaze with almost losing his '67 Corvette.
Video from that same event this week, shared on social media, has since been used...
The Post Millennial
In a new display that really is quite familiar, Joe Biden was caught possibly falling asleep as he was meeting with survivors of the Maui fires.
The clip, which was previously streamed live, went viral on X, formerly known as Twitter. In the video, Biden can be seen bowing his head as his chest slowly rises up and down. As Biden continuously breathes slowly, a man speaking in the background can be heard talking about "ohana" as well as the personal hardships that he and many of his family have faced amid the destructive fires.
...
Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
Conservative pundits used low-quality video on social media platforms Tuesday to spread a false claim that President Joe Biden fell asleep during a memorial for Maui wildfire victims.
Fox News host Sean Hannity was among those who shared low-resolution video on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter. Hannity’s post was viewed more than 425,000 times within a few hours, and similar videos posted by others received thousands more views on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Higher-resolution video from the nonpartisan network C-SPAN shows that Biden looked downward for about 10...
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