Biden entered, exited via same route in Amazon rainforest | Fact check
The claim: Biden wandered off into Amazon rainforest
A Nov. 17 Instagram video (direct link, archive link) shows President Joe Biden standing behind a lectern in a rainforest then turning and walking away.
"YES, THIS JUST HAPPENED," the post's caption reads. "The President of the United States just wandered off into the Amazon. Remember how we lied (sic) to for 3 years and told Biden was 'as sharp as ever?'"
The post garnered more than 8,000 likes in less than three weeks. Other versions of the claim were shared on Facebook, Instagram and X.
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Our rating: False
The full footage of Biden's remarks shows him using the same path to enter and exit. Several other people followed the same route while leaving.
Biden exited using same path, didn't wander off
Biden became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon rainforest on Nov. 17. While there, he issued a statement to the press at the Museum of the Amazon, which offers tours of the rainforest's flora and wildlife.
But the president didn't aimlessly wander into the rainforest after addressing the press.
The White House's Facebook livestream of the event shows the president entering from the same direction he later exited. The pathway is obscured to viewers by the surrounding trees.
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Footage captured by PBS shows several members of the press and crew walking down the same route to leave.
Paste BN reached out to Biden's representatives and the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Reuters and Snopes also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources
- The White House, Nov. 17, Facebook livestream
- PBS NewsHour (YouTube), Nov. 17, WATCH LIVE: Biden delivers remarks after making historic visit to Amazon rainforest in Brazil
- Museu da Amazônia, Aug. 26, 2022, Museum Map
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