Biden Didn't Make Up "Office of President-Elect"

Zach Rathner

Politics

16th November 2020

Biden Didn't Make Up "Office of President-Elect"

The term is highlighted in Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution (Getty Images).

The Claim

Joe Biden has created the "Office of President-Elect."

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“Lari” Martinez 🇺🇸

Terrence K. Williams

Catholic Feminist

Siannon Royer - Elect by grace, grafted by Christ

Nwankwo Victor

Emerging story

Following a public appearance where Joe Biden appeared in front of an image that read “The Office of the President-Elect,” rumors began to circulate on social media that the former Vice President had invented the office.

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Users across social media continued to spread this claim.

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar’s investigation shows that the claim is false. After Biden became the projected winner of the 2020 presidential election, he made a public appearance where the podium behind him read, “The Office of the President-Elect.” While this image has not been manipulated, the claim that Biden created the office and the term is not true. In January 2017, shortly before President Trump was inaugurated, Trump spoke at an event where the same language was used for a poster in front of him.

The General Services Administration (GSA) also uses the term in “Memorandum of Understanding Between the General Services Administration and Joseph R. Biden.”