Far-right spreads baseless claims about Biden’s whereabouts
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US President Joe Biden has said he would address the nation later this week.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON - Many conspiracy theorists and far-right commentators are spreading doubts that US President Joe Biden is alive after he posted a letter on July 21 resigning from his presidential campaign
The theory is baseless. Mr Biden, who learnt he had Covid-19 on July 17 and has been in isolation since, called into a campaign event for Vice-President Kamala Harris on July 22, and the two exchanged praise and playful banter.
“Joe, are you watching? You hear this clapping? Can you see it?” Ms Harris asked the president. As the room echoed with applause, Mr Biden responded: “I’m watching. I’m watching it.”
Mr Biden has also said he would address the nation later this week.
Despite all that, the conspiracy theories have gained traction among the far right, earning support from some mainstream commentators. A hashtag on the topic became a Top 10 trending topic in the United States on the social media platform X.
The theory adds to a torrent of falsehoods and misleading posts by right-wing influencers that have spread since Mr Biden’s announcement. They have falsely denigrated Democrats for conducting a “coup” against primary voters by removing Mr Biden and have attacked Ms Harris with a deluge of sexist and racist remarks.
Soon after the letter was posted to social media on July 21, Fox News anchors raised questions over the lack of photos or videos to accompany the announcement.
“It is disconcerting, isn’t it?” Fox News host Bret Baier said.
“Proof of life, please,” added co-host Dana Perino.
Online, conspiracy theorists raced to analyse the letter for signs that something was amiss. Several fixated on Mr Biden’s autograph, which clearly bears the name “J.R. Biden” but also contains an underline not seen in other signatures from the president.
Mr Bill Ackman, the billionaire financier, promoted several posts on X questioning whether the signature was authentic.
“If this were a hostage situation, that letter would not qualify as proof of life,” he wrote on X in a post that received more than one million views.
Several commentators also noted that the lack of a White House seal or letterhead was evidence that the document was not actually written by Mr Biden. His candidacy is separate from his duties at the White House or for the federal government.
As the conspiracy theory circulated on July 22 – and Mr Biden remained out of the limelight as he recovers – the idea gained support from more prominent right-wing influencers.
Mr Charlie Kirk, the right-wing podcaster, shared a convoluted story that suggested Mr Biden was “dying or possibly already dead”. It was seen more than 12 million times on X. NYTIMES
