Fact check: Cropping alters context of viral Obama campaign event photo
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The claim: Image shows the word 'lies' behind Obama during campaign event
As former President Barack Obama hits the campaign trail in support of former Vice President Joe Biden, misinformation surrounding his events has surfaced on social media.
A viral image circulating on Facebook shows the word "lies" behind Obama while at a campaign event for Biden on Oct. 21 in Philadelphia.
"One picture is worth a thousand words," reads the caption of the photo that has been shared over 14,000 times, posted by the Facebook page Hopelessly Conservative.
USA TODAY reached out to the page for comment.
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Photo is edited
The photo comes from Obama's drive-in rally at Citizens Bank Park, where he criticized President Donald Trump for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Original photos from the event reveal that Obama was speaking in front of Lincoln Financial Field stadium and Broad St. Bullies Pub, an adjacent restaurant.
A broader view of the event and the surroundings behind Obama shows the photo has been edited to crop the word "Bullies" on the restaurant's sign to show only "lies."
A full video of the event and the entire background can be viewed on C-SPAN.
The image is authentic and is from the actual campaign event, however, the tight cropping makes the photo in the post appear highly pixelated.
Our rating: Missing Context
A broader image of the entire event shows that the photo has been deceptively edited to crop the word "bullies" behind Obama to make it appear to say "lies," therefore, we rate this claim as MISSING CONTEXT.
Our fact-check sources:
USA TODAY, Oct. 21, Obama says Trump couldn't 'protect himself' from COVID, has failed to protect the nation
Associated Press, Oct. 21, ELECTION 2020 OBAMA
Shutterstock, Oct. 22, Former US President Barack Obama campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, Philadelphia, USA
C-SPAN, Oct. 21, Former President Obama Campaigns in Philadelphia for Joe Biden
The Philadelphia Tribune, Oct. 21, Obama stumps for Biden before roaring turnout in Philadelphia
Google, Broad St. Bullies Pub
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Crop of viral Barack Obama campaign photo alters context
