MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 05/11/2026

Media Bias Fact Check selects and publishes fact checks from around the world. We only utilize fact-checkers that 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

FALSE	Claim by Donald Trump (R): Gasoline prices have “come down very substantially today.” PolitiFact rating: False (By historical standards, U.S. gasoline prices are unusually high right now. The only time when gasoline prices were higher was for an eight-week period in 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.) Trump is wrong: Gas prices have reached near record highs, not ‘come down very substantially’ Donald Trump Rating
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Before the May 2026 outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, hantavirus had never spread from one person to another. Snopes rating: False (Researchers have known for at least 30 years that one hantavirus variant can spread between people, though such transmission is rare.) Did hantavirus spread between people before cruise ship outbreak? Tracing rare cases
MOSTLY TRUE	Claim by Marcy Kaptur (D): Republicans “want you to pay $1 Billion for a ballroom.” PolitiFact rating: Mostly True (A Senate bill seeks $1 billion for security features for the White House’s East Wing Modernization project, which includes the ballroom. The bill said the money can’t be used for non-security elements.) Are Republicans seeking $1 billion in taxpayer money to pay for Trump’s White House ballroom?
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a Senate hearing, demanded that he show a Combat Action Badge, revealed that he lied about combat experience and referred him for a “stolen valor” investigation. Snopes rating: False (It is an AI creation) Did Joni Ernst expose Pete Hegseth for ‘stolen valor’ by asking to see combat badge during Senate hearing?
FALSE	(International: Italy): Videos authentically show Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wearing a Palestinian flag at a United Nations event with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Snopes rating: Fake Do videos show Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni wearing Palestinian flag at UN event with Netanyahu?

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.