Critics on social media had three words after USA Today published a fact check of Donald Trump’s pants on Monday: “journalism is dead.”
In a tweet linking to the story, USA Today wrote: “Video footage and images taken throughout the night show the pants had a zipper in the front, indicating Trump wore his pants facing the right way.”
Video footage and images taken throughout the night show the pants had a zipper in the front, indicating Trump wore his pants facing the right way. https://t.co/bogANIrBwv
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 7, 2021
The outlet analyzed a claim that circulated on Instagram saying Trump wore his pants backwards during a speech before the North Carolina Republican Party convention on Saturday. The user posted a screengrab of a tweet that pictured the front of the former president’s pants.
Others are noting this, but it can't be shared enough: Donald Trump gave his big speech today with his pants on backwards. Look close and tell me I'm wrong.pic.twitter.com/sRsoJVfyf8
— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) June 6, 2021
What’s worse, USA Today wasn’t alone. NPR and Snopes also issued fact checks on the pants, with the former claiming that talk about Trump’s attire “overshadowed his speech.”
For what it's worth, Snopes at least acknowledged how ridiculous it was that they had to fact check the claim.
Yes, this was perhaps not the way we wanted to spend our Sunday. But we check what people us ask, so.... ?????
— snopes.com (@snopes) June 6, 2021
How about throwing a few bucks our way, so we can be here for the next breaking controversy? https://t.co/WNLMCiLVcl
Critics sounded off on the absurdity of the fact checks.
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Journalism is dead.
— AggAssault73 (@AAssault73) June 7, 2021
Imagine being a person online who spent their Saturday night analyzing Donald Trump’s crotch and coming to the false conclusion that his pants were on backwards and then having the audacity to call the other side crazy
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) June 8, 2021
So USA Today had a camera focused on President Trump’s pants during his speech? Uh-huh. Totally normal. Not weird on any level. #TrumpDerangementSyndrome is real, and is rampant throughout the main stream media. https://t.co/FkggD4Qpir
— Mike (@PlanningMyPast) June 8, 2021
Amazing. Thank you @USATODAY, your service is invaluable https://t.co/yoggVr838n
— The General Staff (@Thegenrlstaff) June 8, 2021
How is this even a real headline? ?? https://t.co/Gsu9gHTP6N
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) June 8, 2021
Mind-numbing stupidity. https://t.co/5Lha71RHtE
— RevRags (@revrags1776) June 8, 2021
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