The Latest Fact Check About Trump Will Remind You Why 'Journalism Is Dead'

Leah Barkoukis | June 08, 2021 7:00 AM

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.... ?????

How about throwing a few bucks our way, so we can be here for the next breaking controversy? https://t.co/WNLMCiLVcl
— snopes.com (@snopes) June 6, 2021

Critics sounded off on the absurdity of the fact checks.