MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 04/17/2025

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

BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: A screenshot authentically shows that U.S. President Donald Trump wrote a post on Truth Social about “most ladies” not wanting to vote. Snopes rating: Fake Don’t believe fake Trump post saying ‘most ladies’ don’t want to vote
FALSE	Claim by Donald Trump (R): “We’ve lost 90,000 plants and factories … since NAFTA.” FactCheck.org rating: False (Data from the Census Bureau’s Business Dynamics Statistics database show that there was a decrease of about 74,000 “manufacturing establishments” in the U.S. between 1995, the peak year for manufacturing after NAFTA went into effect, and 2022, the most recent year for which data is available. Experts say other factors, such as automation, had more to do with the large decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs than trade.) Trump Uses Questionable Figure for U.S. ‘Plants and Factories’ Lost Since NAFTA Donald Trump Rating
TRUE	Did he say it?: U.S President Donald Trump told El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele in April 2025 to build five more prisons in El Salvador to hold “homegrown” U.S. criminals. Snopes rating: True (Trump to Bukele: “Homegrowns are next. The homegrowns. You gotta build about five more places. It’s not big enough.”) Yes, Trump said El Salvador’s president should build more prisons for ‘homegrown’ US criminals
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: “Black Female Lawyer Vs Arrogant Cop” video is authentic bodycam footage Lead Stories rating: False (Staged Skit) Fact Check: Staged Video Shows Black Female Lawyer Arguing With Cop Over Throwing Out Trash At Her Office
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Mexico’s president threatened a global boycott of US goods in an open letter to US voters. AAP rating: False (There’s no evidence Claudia Sheinbaum made the statement, which has been circulating online without attribution since before she became president.) Mexican president didn’t say US economy will ‘crumble’ in tariffs boycott threat
FALSE	(International: South Korea): Photo shows Lee Jae-myung holding sign calling Trump a “nutjob” AFP Fact Check rating: False Photo shows South Korean politician displaying stock chart, not attacking Trump

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.