MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 02/06/2025

Media Bias Fact Check selects and publishes fact checks from around the world. We only utilize fact-checkers who are either a signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) or have been verified as credible by MBFC. Further, we review each fact check for accuracy before publishing. We fact-check the fact-checkers and let you know their bias. When appropriate, we explain the rating and/or offer our own rating if we disagree with the fact-checker. (D. Van Zandt)

Claim Codes: Red = Fact Check on a Right Claim, Blue = Fact Check on a Left Claim, Black = Not Political/Conspiracy/Pseudoscience/Other

Fact Checker bias rating Codes: Red = Right-Leaning, Green = Least Biased, Blue = Left-Leaning, Black = Unrated by MBFC

TRUE	Did He Say It?: U.S. State Department hire Darren Beattie wrote on X: “Competent white men must be in charge if you want things to work. Unfortunately, our entire national ideology is predicated on coddling the feelings of women and minorities, and demoralizing competent white men.” Snopes rating: Correct Attribution Trump appointee said ‘competent white men’ must be in charge for ‘things to work’
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Elon Musk has donated $10 million to the families of January 6 participants. Check Your Fact rating: False (Originated as satire) FACT CHECK: Facebook Post Makes False Claim About Elon Musk, Families Of Jan. 6 Participants
TRUE	Claim via Social Media: The State Department eliminated references to transgender and intersex travelers on a travel advisory document. Snopes rating: True (This change to the State Department website was real.) Yes, State Department eliminated references to trans people on its websites
FALSE	Claim by Donald Trump (R): “I changed the Obama policy (on hiring air traffic controllers) … And then Biden came in and he changed it.” Politifact rating: False (President Barack Obama ordered federal agencies in 2010 to prioritize hiring people with disabilities, and the FAA incorporated this into its diversity hiring program, which continued under President Donald Trump. In 2019, the FAA expanded efforts by launching a program to hire 20 disabled air traffic controllers, while in 2018, Trump eliminated an Obama-era assessment for air traffic controller hiring, which Biden did not reinstate.) Trump faults DEI hiring in plane crash and falsely describes FAA policies under Obama, Biden Donald Trump Rating
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Melania Trump wins 900 million defamation lawsuit against The View Lead Stories rating: False (There is no evidence of a lawsuit.) Fact Check: Melania Trump Did NOT Win A $900M Defamation Lawsuit Against ‘The View’
FALSE	(International: Russia): Claim by Vladimir Putin: “The president of Ukraine, even under conditions of martial law, has no right to extend his powers. … If we start negotiations now, they will be illegitimate.” VOA rating: False Amid Trump’s call for peace in Ukraine, Putin falsely frames talks with Zelenskyy as ‘illegitimate’

Disclaimer: We are providing links to fact-checks by third-party fact-checkers. If you do not agree with a fact check, please directly contact the source of that fact check.