An Altered New York Times Headline Circulates Post the Trump-Biden Campaign Debate

Wesam Abo Marq

News

5th July 2024

An Altered New York Times Headline Circulates Post the Trump-Biden Campaign Debate

This is a fake headline about the Trump-Biden debate (X)

The Claim

the New York Times editorial board proposed, "To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Drone Strike Donald Trump."

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Emerging story

After the contentious Trump-Biden debate on June 27, a screenshot from a purported New York Times article began circulating on social media. The image displayed a headline suggesting that the New York Times editorial board proposed, "To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Drone Strike Donald Trump."

The accompanying comment by the user insinuated that such action would fall within legal boundaries, citing Supreme Court precedent regarding presidential immunity.

A supporting image within the article body

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar investigated the circulating image and found it to be fake.

Social media users online altered the published headline of The New York Times' article.

An Altered Version of the New York Times’ Headline After the Trump-Biden Debate

Contrary to the screenshot circulated by social media users, the headline of the media outlet's article was altered.

The modified image seems to originate from a June 28 editorial titled "To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave the Race," published after the first Biden-Trump debate of the 2024 election.

Supreme Court Ruling on Trump Immunity

The Supreme Court ruled on July 1 regarding presidential immunity amidst criminal charges facing the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, for actions related to overturning the 2020 election and inciting the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

In a decision influenced by conservative justices, the Court affirmed that presidents have "absolute immunity" from criminal prosecution for official acts during their tenure, while allowing for potential criminal penalties for unofficial actions. The case now returns to a lower court to differentiate charges involving official versus unofficial conduct.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump has limited immunity from criminal prosecution concerning efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The case will now return to a trial court to determine which charges can proceed, effectively postponing any potential trial until after the upcoming November election.

Biden Slams Supreme Court Ruling on Trump Immunity

President Joe Biden cautioned on Monday that the U.S. Supreme Court's pivotal ruling on presidential immunity establishes a "dangerous precedent" that Donald Trump could leverage if re-elected in November.

"For all practical purposes today's decision almost certainly means there are no limits to what a president can do. This is a fundamentally new principle, and it's a dangerous precedent," Biden said in a speech at the White House.

The Biden-Trump Heated Debate of the 2024 Election Campaign

In the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign, President Biden faced criticism for his subdued performance, which sharply contrasted with Donald Trump's composed demeanor throughout the 90-minute event held at CNN headquarters in Atlanta.

Despite Biden's critiques of Trump's handling of COVID-19 and policy stances, some Democrats expressed concerns about Biden's overall effectiveness, sparking discussions about his candidacy. Vice President Kamala Harris defended Biden's focus on substance over style, acknowledging a slow start. The debate also featured heated exchanges on immigration and personal fitness challenges between the candidates.