Record of the Press · 2012–Present
Released to the public · 31 OCT 2026File TBL-0056
BAD CALL

Biden age videos framed as "cheap fakes" days before the debate

18 JUN 2024 · The New York Times, Major outlets relaying White House framing
Screenshot of the page as published at aljazeera.com
EXHIBIT A — Page capture from aljazeera.com. Click to open the source.

■ The claim

In mid-June 2024, the White House called viral clips of President Biden "cheap fakes," and prominent coverage emphasized that videos fueling doubts about his age were misleadingly edited.

■ What actually happened

Several specific clips were in fact cropped or stripped of context, such as the G7 parachutist clip and the Los Angeles fundraiser clip, and fact-checks of them were accurate. But the emphasis on manipulation helped downplay concerns that proved well founded: Biden's June 27, 2024 debate performance alarmed his own party and he withdrew from the race on July 21. Some coverage, including the Times piece, did note real voter concerns about his age, so the failure lies in overall emphasis rather than factual error.

■ The proof

The June 27, 2024 debate, broadcast unedited, and Biden's July 21, 2024 withdrawal, which followed concerns about his fitness.

■ Original reporting

■ Corrections, findings & records

■ Wayback Machine copies

Stories sometimes get edited after publication. These links open the Internet Archive's earliest snapshot of each original.

Who it helped: DemocratsShielded Biden from age concerns before the debate.

■ Grade

BAD CALL: A confident prediction or dismissal that turned out wrong. Not a lie, but on the record. How we grade →