No, the U.S. Defense Secretary Did Not Threaten Russia
The Claim
A video shows the US Defense Secretary threatening Russian President Vladimir Putin if he chooses to go to war.
Emerging story
A video circulated on Facebook and YouTube purporting to show the US Defense Secretary threatening Russian President Vladimir Putin if he chooses to go to war.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the widely circulated claim and discovered it to be misleading, as the video does not depict U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin threatening Russian President Vladimir Putin. The video depicts a speech given at the Pentagon by David Bellavia, a U.S. Army sergeant who was honored by former President Donald Trump in June 2019 for rescuing soldiers fighting in the Iraqi city of Fallujah.
The circulated claim came out as Russia continues its war on Ukraine.
Translated by Wesam Abo Marq
