The claim: Biden said sending tanks to Ukraine would be the start of World War III
A Jan. 29 Instagram publish (direct link, archive link) exhibits two photographs of President Joe Biden talking at a podium.
The primary photograph consists of superimposed textual content that claims on March 11, 2022, the president said, “The concept we’re going to ship in tanks to Ukraine, that is known as World War III.”
The second photograph consists of textual content that claims on Jan. 25, he said, “Right this moment, I’m asserting that the US can be sending Abram tanks to Ukraine.”
The publish was favored greater than 100 occasions in lower than two weeks. The picture was additionally shared on Twitter.
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Our score: False
The publish mischaracterizes Biden’s March 2022 remark, which was about sending U.S. troops, not U.S. tanks. Biden said sending army tools “with American pilots and American crews” into Ukraine would be the start of World War III.
Biden involved about sending ‘offensive weapons’ and American servicemembers
On Jan. 25, Biden introduced the U.S. would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, a course of that would take a number of months to full. He pressured that the U.S. isn’t attempting to escalate the battle, however relatively equip Ukraine’s protection of itself towards Russia.
“That’s what that is about: serving to Ukraine defend and defend Ukrainian land,” Biden said. “It’s not an offensive risk to Russia.”
Opposite to the Fb publish’s claim, there isn’t any proof Biden had beforehand said sending tanks would start a world war.
The supposed March 11, 2022, quote attributed to him seems to be a misrepresentation of one thing he said that day whereas talking to the Home Democratic Caucus Points Convention in Philadelphia.
When talking concerning the war in Ukraine, Biden known as for “rallying the world on the facet of peace and safety” earlier than outlining the place he thought the U.S. ought to restrict its help of Ukraine to keep away from escalation.
Then he said this, in accordance to video of the remarks and a White House transcript:
“However look, the concept — the concept that we’re going to ship in offensive tools and have planes and tanks and trains getting in with American pilots and American crews, simply perceive — and don’t child your self, it doesn’t matter what you all say — that’s known as World War Three, Okay?”
An examination of the feedback in context makes clear Biden is saying that he believes sending sure weapons “with American pilots and American crews” would lead to world war. At no level on this speech, or wherever else, does Biden state that sending tanks alone to Ukraine would precipitate a world war.
Reality test: False claim that classified documents were found at the University of Delaware
The scope of U.S. and NATO involvement within the war in Ukraine has repeatedly been the topic of viral misinformation. USA TODAY has debunked claims that the U.S. spent twice as much on support to Ukraine because it did on the war in Afghanistan, that a video showed American tanks being shipped via Poland and that NATO had sent 10,000 troops to Ukraine.
USA TODAY couldn’t attain the Instagram customers sharing the claim for remark.
PolitiFact and Reuters additionally debunked variations of this claim.
Our fact-check sources:
The White Home, Jan. 25, Remarks by President Biden on Continued Support for Ukraine
The White Home, March 11, 2022, Remarks by President Biden at the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference
USA TODAY, Feb. 8, Fact check: US expenditure for the Afghanistan War surpasses aid given to Ukraine
USA TODAY, Feb. 3, Fact check: Video shows tanks in Kansas, not Poland
USA TODAY, Jan. 26, As Biden seeks to avoid wider war, delivery of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine escalates conflict
USA TODAY, Aug. 31, 2022, Fact check: False claim that NATO sent 10,000 troops to Ukraine
CNBC (YouTube), March 11, 2022, President Biden delivers remarks at the House Democratic Caucus Issues conference — 3/11/22
PolitiFact, Feb. 2, Tweets distort Biden’s comments on tanks, Ukraine and World War III
Reuters, Feb. 3, Fact Check-Comparison of Biden remarks on sending tanks to Ukraine are missing context
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Our fact-check work is supported partially by a grant from Fb.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Biden said sending troops to Ukraine would cause world war
