During his UNGA address, Donald Trump staunchly defended US military action against Iran in a robust and unyielding speech.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In the wake of the United Nations General Assembly, social media has been buzzing with a peculiar rumor. A viral narrative suggests that international leaders are intentionally photoshopping Donald Trump out of their UNGA meeting pictures. The claim quickly gained traction, prompting both amusement and confusion online, and necessitating a closer look at the facts.
Claim: International leaders are removing Donald Trump from UNGA photos
The rumor first appeared on X, with a post claiming, “Donald Trump is reportedly furious because the presidents and prime ministers of other countries have been posting their photos from the UN General Assembly with Trump edited out of them, as he got edited out of all the World Cup trophy celebration photos.”
Within a short time, the post racked up over 100,000 views. While many users took the bait and mocked the former president, others grew skeptical, questioning its authenticity and asking for verification.
Fact Check: The viral claim stems from a satire account
Ultimately, the claim is entirely fabricated. There is zero evidence that foreign leaders have altered their official UNGA photos to excise Trump.
Furthermore, no official group photos or videos from the gathering feature Trump alongside other global leaders in a context that would allow for such editing. Had such a bizarre diplomatic snub actually occurred, major news networks would have covered it extensively, yet a thorough search yields no such reports.
The origin of the rumor explains the confusion: it was posted by ‘The Halfway Post,’ an online profile that explicitly brands itself as a source of comedy and satire.
Trump takes a hardline stance on Iran at the UN
Away from social media fiction, Tuesday, September 22, marked a notable moment at the UNGA as Trump took the podium to vigorously defend his administration’s military campaign against Iran, all while Iranian delegates listened from the floor.
“There is no better example of a danger that was allowed to gather strength at the world’s peril than the number one sponsor of terror, the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump declared.
He continued, “For 51 years, the fanatical Iranian regime has ruled by bloodshed and mass murder, spreading death and carnage and chaos across the entire Middle East and beyond.”
Emphasizing a shift in power dynamics, he added, “They were the bully of the Middle East, but they are the bully no more.”
“From the first day I entered the political arena, I’ve been unwavering. I will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump concluded.