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

$
TikTok posts
TikTok posts
stated on November 2, 2020 in a video posted on TikTok:

“Biden says he doesn’t need voters to get elected.”

False
By Miriam Valverde
November 3, 2020

Video misrepresents Biden’s speech in Michigan

If your time is short

  • The video posted on TikTok features Joe Biden saying: "Folks we got a lot of work to do. I don’t only need you to get me elected, I need you once I’m elected."

  • The word "only" isn’t enunciated clearly. But the context of that speech and similar speeches make it clear that Biden is telling people that he needs their support to get him elected.

See the sources for this fact-check

A video posted on TikTok falsely implies that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is plotting election fraud.

“Biden says he doesn’t need voters to get elected,” said text over a short video of Biden speaking during a campaign stop in Michigan. “That’s not suspicious….”

The video features Biden saying: “Folks we got a lot of work to do. I don’t only need you to get me elected, I need you once I’m elected.”

The word “only” isn’t enunciated clearly. But the context of that speech and similar speeches make it clear that Biden is telling people that he needs their support to get him elected — and that they should stay involved should he be elected.

Political organizations and press teams for candidates typically send reporters the text of speeches public figures will make in high-profile events. Likewise, Biden’s press team often sends reporters Biden’s “remarks as prepared for delivery.” The campaign sent such information for an Oct. 31 campaign event Biden had in Detroit.

That prepared text shows that Biden was expected to say that day (emphasis ours): “It’s time for Donald Trump to pack his bags and go home. We’re done with the chaos. The tweets. The anger. The hate. The failure. The irresponsibility. We’ve got a lot of work to do. And if I’m elected your president, we’re going to do it. We’re going to act.”

Biden’s actual delivery varied slightly from those remarks, saying instead: “It’s time for Donald Trump to pack his bags and go home, as the president said, we’re done with the chaos, with the tweets, with the anger, with the hate, with the failure, with irresponsibility. Folks we got a lot of work to do. I don’t only need you to get me elected. I need you once I’m elected. Because if i’m elected your president, we’re going to get things done.” (The “as the president said” is a reference to former president Barack Obama, who spoke on stage before Biden.)

The same day in Flint, Mich., Biden similarly said: “It’s time for Donald Trump to pack his bags and go home. We’re done with the chaos, the tweets, the anger, the hate, the failure, refusing to take any responsibility. We’ve got a lot of work to do, got a lot of work to do. If I’m elected your president, we’re going to do it. We’re going to act.”

Biden’s speeches in Michigan urged Americans to vote, contrary to the claim in the video on TikTok.

Biden’s campaign told PolitiFact that Biden throughout his campaign has expressed the sentiment of needing voters’ support when they cast their ballot and after that process.

In August, Biden spoke at a virtual conference organized by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. After being introduced, Biden said: “If I have the honor of being elected president, I want to thank you for your opening remarks because, you know, and I’m going to need you if I get elected. Not just getting elected, if I get elected.”

Our ruling

A video posted on TikTok claimed, “Biden says he doesn’t need voters to get elected.”

That’s a misrepresentation of Biden’s remarks in Michigan. Biden asked Americans to vote and elect him president.

We rate the post False.

Our Sources

TikTok post, Nov. 2, 2020

Email from Joe Biden’s campaign, Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Vice President Joe Biden in Detroit, Mich., Oct. 31, 2020

Email interview, Joe Biden’s campaign press team, Nov. 3, 2020

C-SPAN, NALEO Virtual Conference with Joe Biden, Aug. 6, 2020

YouTube, WOOD TV 8 — Obama, Biden speak at Detroit rally, Oct. 31, 2020

Rev.com, Joe Biden & Barack Obama Campaign Event Speech Transcript Flint, MI, Oct. 31, 2020

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Miriam Valverde
Mitt Romney
stated on August 29, 2021 a CNN interview
The Trump administration worked to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners.
True
Facebook posts
stated on August 16, 2021 a Facebook post
COVID-19 vaccinations are “a violation of the Nuremberg code."
False
Instagram posts
stated on June 4, 2021 an Instagram post
"920 women lose their unborn babies after getting vaccinated."
False
Facebook posts
stated on May 25, 2021 a Facebook post
“Biden agrees to Pelosi's request to resign.”
Pants on Fire!

Facebook post makes false claim about a lockdown, open borders

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