Video of Biden altered so speech appears unnaturally slow | Fact check
Kate S. PetersenThe claim: Video shows authentic footage of Biden speaking slowly at press conference
A Nov. 18 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows President Joe Biden talking about fentanyl at a news conference. He appears to be speaking very slowly.
"Get this doofus away from all microphones," reads text superimposed over the video.
The post garnered more than 14,000 likes in nine days.
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Our rating: Altered
The video is altered. It has been slowed down in a way that makes it appear as if Biden was speaking at a slower pace.
Biden speech slowed in video
The video shows Biden speaking at a Nov. 15 news conference after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. C-SPAN and CNN footage of the conference show Biden speaking at a more natural pace.
The viral video shows a clip from the speech that has been slowed down.
In the clip, Biden references discussions with the Chinese president to reduce the illegal import of fentanyl and fentanyl precursors from China to the U.S.
Fact check: Profane chant was digitally edited into a Biden speech on gun violence
USA TODAY reached out to the Instagram user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources:
- C-SPAN, Nov. 15, President Biden Holds News Conference at APEC
- CNN (YouTube), Nov. 15, President Joe Biden holds news conference after Xi Jinping meeting
- DEA Intelligence Report, January 2020, Fentanyl flow to the United States
- NPR, Nov. 15, Biden announces new agreements with China on fentanyl and resuming military talks
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