This is a collection of the most popular false stories and images from the week. Even though they were widely shared on social media, none of them are true. The Associated Press checked them and found them to be false.
Donald Trump claims that a judge in New York is not allowing him to attend his son's graduation, but no decision has been made yet.
CLAIM: A judge in New York, Juan M. Merchan, informed former President Donald Trump on the first day of his hush money case that he cannot attend his son Barron’s May 17 high school graduation because he needs to be in court that day.
THE FACTS: On Monday, Merchan said he wasn't ready to decide on the request to adjourn the court on May 17 so Trump can attend the ceremony. He mentioned that his decision will depend on how the trial goes. Despite this, Trump said after the first day of the trial that “it looks like the judge will not let me go to the graduation of my son.” He also expressed unhappiness because the trial prevented him from attending his son’s graduation and other events, including a U.S. Supreme Court hearing and campaign stops.
Trump then continued to criticize the judge on his social media platform, stating in one post that he “will likely not be allowed to attend” and that “the Judge, Juan Merchan, is preventing me from proudly attending my son’s Graduation.” Less than two hours later, he wrote in another post that he is “being prohibited from attending.”
Trump's claims were quickly repeated by social media users.
One post shared on X accused a New York judge of not allowing President Trump to attend Barron’s high school graduation and received around 23,000 likes and 11,200 shares by Thursday.
Some posts also suggested that Trump will be arrested if he attends the graduation against the judge's decision.
However, Merchan has not made a decision on this matter yet.
On Monday, Trump’s legal team asked for the trial not to be held on May 17 so that the former president can be present at the ceremony. They also requested the trial not be held on June 3 so that he can attend his own son’s graduation.
Merchan stated that he was not ready to make a decision on either request, but mentioned that if the trial proceeds as planned, he’s willing to adjourn for one or both days. He emphasized that “It really depends on how we’re doing on time and where we are in the trial.”
The judge will require Trump to appear in court in New York next Thursday, while the Supreme Court will be hearing arguments about whether, as a former president, he is immune from prosecution in another of his four criminal cases. Trump is not required to be present at the Supreme Court for the arguments.
On Monday, Merchan informed Trump about the “Parker warnings,” informing him that his right to be present at the trial could be revoked if he misbehaved and that he could be put in jail for disruptive behavior. Trump indicated that he understood a warrant for his arrest will be issued if he deliberately fails to appear for the trial, according to a court transcript. This is standard criminal procedure law in New York.
Donald Trump is accused of 34 felony charges of altering business records to cover up negative stories that might harm his 2016 campaign, especially as his reputation was suffering due to his comments about women at that time.
Trump is dealing with charges in three other criminal cases, including two related to the 2020 election. On Feb. 16, he was instructed to pay $335 million in penalties in a civil case for misleading banks, insurers and others by inflating his wealth on financial statements, a decision he is appealing.
No, there was no immigrant invasion of New York City Hall in search of luxury hotel rooms.
CLAIM: Illegal immigrants in the U.S. gathered at New York City Hall on Tuesday, requesting housing in luxury hotels rather than city shelters.
THE FACTS: Social media posts distorted the actions of the participants and the purpose for their gathering at City Hall.
Hundreds of Black immigrants peacefully gathered in City Hall Park during a hearing about racial inequities in New York’s shelter and immigrant support systems. They gathered there after it became clear that only around 100 people would be allowed into the hearing, The Associated Press reported.
The New York Police Department informed the AP that no arrests were made in connection to the gathering. Attendees said they came for various reasons, such as to support City Council members at the hearing or to seek information about jobs and housing.
Numerous videos from the gathering depicted large groups of people calmly standing, milling about or waiting in line. Other footage showed people cheering outside City Hall.
'Illegals have just swarmed NYC City Hall and have surrounded it,' reads one X post that had received approximately 32,000 likes and 20,600 shares as of Thursday. 'They’re trying to occupy the building and are demanding luxury hotel rooms provided to illegals instead of the shelters that NYC has provided. This is only going to get worse.'
A caption on a TikTok video of people in line reads: 'TODAY IN BIDEN’S AMERICA… illegals in NYC stormed City Hall because they are being moved into shelters and out of their luxury hotels.' It was viewed approximately 67,300 times.
However, the gathering of over 1,500 immigrants, mostly from Guinea, was peaceful and there was no indication they had arrived en masse at City Hall to demand luxury hotel accommodations.
They were at City Hall for a hearing held by the City Council’s Committee on Immigration to examine racial inequities in the city’s shelter and immigrant support systems. Relatively minor proposals were on the day’s agenda. For instance, a set of bills that would require administrators to collect better data on migrants receiving city services, as well as a resolution for the federal government to eliminate or reimburse immigration application fees. Immigrants also testified about their own experiences.
A press conference was held on the steps of City Hall prior to the hearing. It featured speakers including Council Member Alexa Avilés, chair of the Committee on Immigration, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and representatives of advocacy and support groups.
Emmet Teran, a representative for Avilés, said to the AP that the groups at the conference invited the immigrants they work with to come, but other early arrivals were also allowed past security barriers. He mentioned that they also held an impromptu press conference for those who couldn't get in.
Teran commented that the claims spreading online are disgusting but not surprising coming from the people saying them. He stated that they were clear in their messaging about the hearing and what they wanted to cover, which was the experiences of Black immigrants in New York City.
Teran characterized the crowds as "extremely calm" and mentioned that people were understanding even though some were frustrated about waiting in line or not getting into the hearing. They gathered in City Hall Park after realizing that only about 100 people would be allowed into the hearing, as reported by the AP. Many attendees said they had learned about the event through word of mouth, often from WhatsApp groups with fellow immigrants.
An AP reporter present at the gathering observed that it was calm and orderly. When asked, immigrants were mainly concerned about getting permission to work in the U.S. Some also complained about the lack of access to halal food in shelters. Others were worried about being evicted from shelters or had come to support City Council members.
The chairman of WEF is alive and well, despite online claims.
CLAIM: Klaus Schwab, executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, was recently hospitalized in serious condition and there were rumors of his death.
THE FACTS: Posts making these allegations began spreading widely after a website that claims to publish satire and comedic opinion pieces and editorials posted an article about Schwab's supposed hospitalization. A WEF spokesperson informed The Associated Press that the claims are false.
"BREAKING: Klaus Schwab was apparently admitted to the hospital seriously ill," reads one post that had received approximately 26,000 likes and 9,000 shares as of Thursday. "Anyway, that doesn't BUG me."
The word "bug" seems to be highlighted in reference to another false claim that the WEF wants to replace meat with bugs.
Other posts go a step further, stating that Schwab "may be dead."
But the WEF founder is not deathly ill or worse, according to Yann Zopf, a spokesperson for the organization.
"These claims are entirely baseless and unfounded," he wrote in an email to the AP. "Professor Schwab’s health is excellent. Like many high-profile individuals and organizations, he and the World Economic Forum have been targeted by conspiracy narratives, as well as misinformation and disinformation campaigns.
The recent allegations began spreading widely after a website called the Weekly Crier on Sunday published an article titled, "World Economic Forum Founder Klaus Schwab Hospitalized." The Weekly Crier states on its About Us page that in addition to "reliable and unbiased news and information," it posts "satire, and comedic opinion pieces and editorials."
The article on Schwab does not cite any sources, only stating that he was "reportedly admitted to the hospital late last night" and that other details "have not been officially disclosed." It adds that "the WEF community, meanwhile, has been relatively quiet on the matter.
The Weekly Crier did not reply when asked for a comment.
