In a week filled with misinformation and false claims, some of the most popular but completely untrue stories have been debunked by the Associated Press.
One such claim involved former President Donald Trump, who alleged that New York Judge Juan M. Merchan told him he couldn’t attend his son Barron’s high school graduation on May 17 due to his hush money case. However, Merchan clarified that he had not made a ruling on the matter and would decide based on the trial’s progress. Despite this, Trump took to social media to criticize the judge and claimed he was being prevented from attending the graduation. Social media users quickly spread the false claims, with some even suggesting Trump would be arrested if he attended the ceremony.
Another false claim circulating on social media was that immigrants in the U.S. illegally had stormed New York City Hall demanding housing in luxury hotels instead of city shelters. In reality, hundreds of Black immigrants had peacefully gathered at City Hall Park for a hearing on racial inequities in the city’s shelter and immigrant support systems. The New York Police Department confirmed that no arrests were made, and attendees were there for various reasons, such as supporting City Council members or seeking information about jobs and housing.
Lastly, rumors spread that World Economic Forum executive chairman Klaus Schwab was seriously ill or even dead. These claims originated from a satirical website and were quickly debunked by a WEF spokesperson, who confirmed that Schwab’s health was excellent. The misinformation was part of a larger trend of conspiracy narratives targeting high-profile individuals and organizations.