Fact Check: Edited Video Falsely Claims Donald Trump Was Slapped On Stage
The viral claim that US President Donald Trump was slapped on stage is false. The video has been digitally altered. The actual footage is from a 2016 rally where no physical assault took place.
- By: Abhishek Parashar
- Published: Apr 22, 2025 at 05:36 PM
- Updated: Apr 22, 2025 at 05:47 PM
New Delhi (Vishvas News): A video going viral on social media shows US President Donald Trump addressing a rally when a young man appears to slap him from behind and walk off. The clip is being circulated as recent.
Vishvas News investigated the claim and found that the viral video was edited. The original footage is from a 2016 campaign rally, where a protester attempted to breach Trump’s security, prompting a swift response from Secret Service agents. Trump was not slapped.
What is viral?
Facebook user ‘Siddharth Vallabh’ shared the viral video and claimed that Trump was slapped on stage.
Investigation
In the viral version, Trump is seen speaking when a man seemingly slaps him before his security intervenes.
To find the original source of the viral clip, we did a reverse image search of its keyframes, which led us to the original video posted by CBS News on March 12, 2016:
According to this video bulletin uploaded on March 12, 2016, a protester tried to climb onto the stage at Trump’s Vandalia, Ohio rally, after which agents rushed to protect him.
The footage clearly shows a protester rushing to the stage, but not assaulting Trump. Reports from the time, including coverage by ABC News, confirm this. Another angle of the video confirmed no physical contact could be made.
Vishvas News also spoke to foreign affairs journalist J P Ranjan of Dainik Jagran, who confirmed that no such slapping incident ever occurred.
Notably, on July 13, 2024, there was a deadly attack on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, when he was campaigning as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate.
The user who shared the viral video is followed by around 6,000 people on Facebook.
Conclusion: The viral claim that US President Donald Trump was slapped on stage is false. The video has been digitally altered. The actual footage is from a 2016 rally where no physical assault took place.
- Claim Review : Trump gets slapped on stage.
- Claimed By : Facebook user 'Siddharth Vallabh'
- Fact Check : False
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