Fake news says Michelle Obama blamed Donald Trump for Florida shooting


Florida vigil
A candlelight vigil was held the day after the mass shooting at a Florida high school. (USA Today Network)

Facebook users flagged a suspicious post on a site called American President Donald J. Trump. The headline read, “Michelle Obama: ‘Florida shooting is clearly Trump’s fault, these shootings are happening constantly since he became our president.”

The news brief said Obama made those comments “in Chicago amid the Obama Foundation worldwide event.”

But this story is a hoax.

The Obama Foundation has not held an event since 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14.

A search of the Nexis news database finds that former first lady Michelle Obama did not make those remarks at another event, or in any format whatsoever.

An identical article showed up on three websites — Usdeplorablesnews.com, DailynewsforAmericans.com and Uberconservative.com.

None should be trusted.

In the aftermath of the Florida shooting, Michelle Obama retweeted the comments made by her husband, Barack Obama. He wrote:

“We are grieving with Parkland. But we are not powerless. Caring for our kids is our first job. And until we can honestly say that we’re doing enough to keep them safe from harm, including long overdue, common-sense gun safety laws that most Americans want, then we have to change.”

Websites claimed that Michelle Obama blamed Trump for the shooting in Florida. But she never said that. We rate this claim Pants on Fire.

Share the Facts
1
1
7

PolitiFact rating logo PolitiFact Rating:

Pants on Fire

Says Michelle Obama said Florida shooting “is clearly our president’s fault.”
In an article on a fake news website.
Thursday, February 15, 2018

By
Jon Greenberg
Senior Correspondent
February 16, 2018

Truth-o-meter Ruling

Pants on Fire!

Statement

Says Michelle Obama said Florida shooting "is clearly our president’s fault."

 

Context

a fake news blog post

Speaker/Target

Statement Date

February 15, 2018
Our Sources

American President Donald J. Trump, Michelle Obama: ‘Florida Shooting Is Clearly Trump’s Fault, Feb. 15, 2018

Obama Foundation, Updates, accessed Feb. 16, 2018

Translations

Language: en

More by This Author

Latest Fact Checks