Fact check: Profane chant edited into footage of Joe Biden's motorcade in London

Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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The claim: Video shows crowd in London shouting profane chant at Biden's passing motorcade

President Joe Biden flew to London over the weekend to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, who died Sept. 8. He signed the official condolence book at Buckingham Palace on Sept. 18 before attending the queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey the next day.

A video shared on Facebook purportedly shows him receiving a less-than-friendly greeting as his motorcade inches forward in traffic.

"OUCH!!! Biden’s gets a 'F--- Joe Biden' welcome in London," the Sept. 20 video's caption reads. "The whole world knows."

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The video garnered more than 10,000 views in two days. Similar viral iterations have been shared on Facebook and Twitter.

But the video's audio has been digitally altered. The original video shows the crowd cheering for Biden as his motorcade passes, not cursing at him.

USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment.

Video's audio is edited

Biden's limousine came to a standstill near the Marble Arch in London on its way to the queen's funeral, according to Yahoo News. Most world leaders were transported to the Sept. 19 funeral in shuttle buses, while Biden was allowed to take his own vehicle, The Sun reported.

Original footage of Biden's motorcade inching up the street was shared on Twitter by Global Counsel political analyst Joe Armitage. The video shows crowds of people cheering and clapping for Biden as he passes by. No one can be heard shouting expletives at the motorcade.

"American President comes to a standstill in London traffic near Marble Arch," the tweet's caption reads. "Might as well have taken the bus."

Fact check: Video purporting to show child swearing at Jill Biden is manipulated

The footage was also published by the Evening Standard and The Economic Times.

USA TODAY previously debunked a video purportedly showing children cursing at first lady Jill Biden during a book reading. The audio was digitally edited in that video as well.

The altered video of Biden's motorcade was also debunked by Reuters, AFP Fact Check and Newsweek.

Our rating: Altered

Based on our research, we rate ALTERED a video that purportedly shows crowds in London shouting profane remarks at Biden's motorcade. The audio has been digitally edited. The original video shows the crowd cheering as the motorcade passes.

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: False claim that London crowd cursed at Joe Biden's car