Stand up for the facts!

Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.

More Info

I would like to contribute

$
Facebook posts
Facebook posts
stated on October 27, 2019 in a Facebook post:

Says CNN called Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi an “unarmed father of three.”

Pants on Fire!
By Daniel Funke
October 30, 2019

CNN did not call Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi an ‘unarmed father of three’

A viral photo of a CNN chyron makes it look like the network sympathized with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former Islamic State leader, after he died in an American raid. But the image is fake.

The post was published on Facebook Oct. 27 — the day after the raid on Baghdadi’s compound in northwestern Syria. It has been shared more than 2,500 times.

“Trump Kills Unarmed Father of Three,” reads the chyron. “President calls brave ISIS fighter a ’coward & dog’ … credits Russia in brutal slaying.”

The post, which has been published by several other pages and users, 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.) Some commenters took it as a joke, and others thought it might be real.

CNN never aired a chyron calling Baghdadi an “unarmed father of three.” The pieces of the image were manipulated.

The image of Don Lemon, host of “CNN Tonight,” has been online since at least January, according to a Google reverse image search. The photo of Baghdadi is real — it was taken from a video posted by the Islamic State’s propaganda arm in April. It could have aired on CNN during Baghdadi coverage, albeit not with this chyron.

We checked CNN captions since the raid was carried out Oct. 26. We could find no mention of the word “unarmed.” We also checked “CNN Tonight” archives and could not find a chyron that matched the one in the viral photo.

Then there’s the timing of the chyron.

“This is fake,” said Christal Jones, a senior public relations manager at CNN, in an email. “Don’s show airs weeknights 10pm to midnight. The clip shows a time of 9:01pmET.”

The Facebook post is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim. We rate it Pants on Fire!

Our Sources

Associated Press, "IS leader appears in video for first time in 5 years," April 29, 2019

"CNN Tonight," accessed Oct. 29, 2019

Emailed comment from Christal Jones, a senior public relations manager at CNN, Oct. 29, 2019

Facebook post, Oct. 27, 2019

Facebook post, Oct. 27, 2019

Facebook post, Oct. 27, 2019

Facebook post, Oct. 28, 2019

Google reverse image search, accessed Oct. 29, 2019

PolitiFact, "No evidence photo of Trump watching Baghdadi raid was staged," Oct. 28, 2019

RawStory, "CNN’s Don Lemon calls Wilbur Ross comment the most ‘elitist’ remark he has ever heard," Jan. 24, 2019

TVEyes, accessed Oct. 29, 2019

TV News Archive, accessed Oct. 29, 2019

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Daniel Funke
Facebook posts
stated on February 13, 2021 a text post
Donald Trump's second impeachment "cost $33 million."
False

Trump impeachment defense lawyer wrongly singles out antifa in Capitol riot

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on January 7, 2026 a press briefing

stated on January 14, 2026 a statement

Social Media
stated on February 14, 2026 social media posts



stated on January 20, 2026 an op-ed


Donald Trump
stated on February 3, 2026 remarks in the Oval Office


Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 social media posts





Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on stated on November 17, 2025 in remarks at George Washington University:

Donald Trump
stated on February 2, 2026 an interview with Dan Bongino