‘It will most likely cost her the election and earn her a federal indictment,’ a fabricated quote falsely attributed to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s press secretary sparked a viral online rumor about Rashida Tlaib.
LANSING, MICHIGAN: A rumor has been spreading across social media claiming that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has revoked her endorsement of Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. The alleged reason behind the supposed fallout involves accusations that Tlaib accepted illegal foreign donations from pro-Palestine organizations. Given the heavy criticism and debate generated by the rumor, a closer examination of the facts was required.
The Rumor: Did Gretchen Whitmer drop her support for Rashida Tlaib?
🚨MICHIGAN GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER SAYS SHE HAS “NO CHOICE” BUT TO WITHDRAW HER ENDORSEMENT FOR RASHIDA TLAIB AFTER THE CONGRESSWOMAN WAS CAUGHT RED-HANDED TAKING FOREIGN DONATIONS FROM PRO-PALESTINE GROUPS!
Follow @RedLivesMatterQ
The only reason Whitmer pulled her support… pic.twitter.com/HmZngzx2Zt
According to widely shared posts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Whitmer supposedly stated she had “no alternative” but to cut ties with Tlaib following discoveries of foreign financial backing.
The viral posts even featured a fabricated statement from Whitmer’s Press Secretary, Josephine Barron, which read: “It’s unfortunate that Congresswoman Tlaib couldn’t play by the rules. It will most likely cost her the election and earn her a federal indictment.”
While the rumor quickly gained traction on networks like Facebook and Bluesky—with many users accepting the narrative at face value—others immediately questioned its legitimacy and demanded proof.
Fact Check: The story originated from a satire and parody source
Ultimately, the claim is entirely baseless. There is zero credible evidence indicating that Governor Whitmer ever withdrew her endorsement of Tlaib over foreign campaign contributions from pro-Palestine groups.
Neither the Michigan governor nor her official office has issued any statements, press releases, or social media posts backing up the claim. Furthermore, the press secretary never made any such remarks.
A deeper look into the origins of the story reveals that it stems from “America’s Last Line Of Defense,” a well-known Facebook-based parody network that explicitly notes in its profile description, “Nothing on this page is real.”
Rashida Tlaib’s outspoken stance on Palestine
Tlaib, who has frequently faced political backlash for her unwavering advocacy for Palestinians and her criticisms of Israel, is no stranger to controversy. Born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrant parents, she made history in 2018 by becoming the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress.
Addressing supporters at a pro-Palestine rally last year, Tlaib reflected on her journey and political presence:
“They thought they could kill us, imprison us, violently uproot us from our olive tree farms, starve our children to death, and we would disappear. Well, guess what? Now we’re in Congress, and we’re in every corner of the United States,” she declared.
She added, “Y’all, they just don’t get it. They just don’t get it! They will never truly comprehend, even after seven decades, that we aren’t going anywhere. We are just getting started. I want to say to all of them, every genocide enabler: look at this room, we ain’t going anywhere.”