MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 05/01/2025

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: Donald Trump’s mother said her son was an idiot with “zero common sense” and “no social skills” and that she hoped he’d never get into politics as he’d be a “disaster”. Full Fact rating: False (There’s no evidence Mrs Trump ever said this.) Unsubstantiated claim that Donald Trump’s mother said he’d be a ‘disaster’ in politics reshared online – Full Fact
BLATANT LIE	Claim by Donald Trump (R): Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia “had ‘MS-13’ on his knuckles tattooed. … He had ‘MS’ as clear as you can be. Not ‘interpreted.’” PolitiFact rating: Pants on Fire (This needs to be repeated since Trump continues to promote this lie. The figures M, S, 1 and 3 and words below the symbols don’t appear in other photographs of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia’s hand, including one shared by the Salvadoran government. Experts in MS-13 and other gangs say the pictorial tattoos shown are not typical designs for MS-13 or other gangs.) President Donald Trump says Kilmar Abrego Garcia has “‘MS-13’ on his knuckles.” Pants on Fire! Donald Trump Rating
TRUE	Claim via Social Media: In 2019, Virginia Giuffre, who accused New York financier Jeffrey Epstein and his partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, of sexually abusing her as a teen, posted: “In no way, shape or form am I suicidal.” Snopes rating: True (Correct Attribution) Yes, Virginia Giuffre, Jeffrey Epstein accuser, posted she was not suicidal in 2019
BLATANT LIE	Claim by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: A 1987 North Dakota study assessed all 180,000 children in-person for autism. FactCheck.org rating: False (Only about 200 children were evaluated after a records review flagged them.) RFK Jr. Misleads on Autism Prevalence, Causes
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: German intelligence services arrested two alleged Russian spies who had U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s private number stored in their cellphones. Snopes rating: False (No Evidence) No proof Germany arrested Russian spies who had Pete Hegseth’s number in their cellphones
FALSE	(International: Italy): Video shows Palestinian flags being waved at Pope Francis’ funeral. Logically Facts rating: False Video shows Palestine flags at Pope Francis’ funeral? No, it’s old

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.