Miscaptioned viral clip claims to show US convoy headed to southern border | Fact check
The claim: Video shows military convoy traveling to US southern border
A Jan. 22 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) includes a TikTok video that shows a convoy of tanks and other military vehicles moving along a highway lined with onlookers.
“Mass deportation,” reads text on the video, adding, “Trump making good on his promises. Headed to the border. This is Texas.”
The Instagram video received more than 6,000 likes in two days. The clip also circulated widely on TikTok and on X.
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Our rating: False
The clip circulated at least five months before the military action referenced in the post took place and is unrelated to any of President Donald Trump's campaign promises.
Video shared to social media in August 2024
Included in the flurry of executive orders issued during the first hours of Trump's second presidential term were a declaration of emergency at the southern border and a call to the military to assist in securing it. The Department of Defense announced two days later that it would send 1,500 active-duty troops to the border.
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But that’s not what the Instagram video shows. It was shared months before the Pentagon's announcement and has nothing to do with any promises from Trump.
The clip previously was posted to TikTok on Aug. 15, 2024, with a caption saying it shows “Polish Army Day.” Poland celebrates its Armed Forces Day holiday on Aug. 15, marking its victory over Russia during the Battle of Warsaw in 1920. Paste BN found no record of the video online prior to that date but could not independently confirm the video’s origin.
Paste BN previously debunked false claims that Trump’s plans to eliminate birthright citizenship would make both his youngest son Barron and Vice President JD Vance’s wife non-citizens, and that former Vice President Kamala Harris was “put in charge of the border.”
Paste BN reached out to several social media users who shared the video but did not immediately receive any responses.
Our fact-check sources
- @_forever_young_00, Aug. 15, 2024, TikTok video
- The Republic of Poland, Aug. 15, 2024, Polish Armed Forces Day
- The Associated Press, Aug. 15, 2024, Poland showcases its growing army on a holiday that celebrates its historic defeat of the Red Army
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