The claim: Image shows Trump wore bandage on wrong ear at RNC
A July 17 Instagram video ( direct link , archive link ) shows former President Donald Trump walking through a crowd at the Republican National Convention and shaking several men's hands. He appears to be wearing a bandage on his left ear in the video.
"Trump supporters will always make excuses for him," reads part of the on-screen text. "Looks like Byron Donald made him aware of the wrong ear."
The post, which was originally shared by another Instagram user before being deleted, garnered more than 1,000 likes in four days. Other versions of the claim were shared on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter .
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Our rating: Altered
The footage is flipped to show Trump wearing the bandage on the opposite ear. Footage and photos from the convention show the former president wearing the bandage on his right ear, which was the one injured in the assassination attempt.
Video of Trump at RNC is mirrored
Trump appeared at the Republican National Convention with a bandage on his ear following the assassination attempt at his July 13 rally. He continued to wear the bandage all four days of the convention.
The former president didn't wear it on the wrong ear, however.
The clip shown in the Instagram post is a mirrored version of footage broadcast by C-SPAN on July 15. The original footage shows Trump wearing the bandage on his right ear, where he described being shot two days prior.
In the Instagram video, letters and words in signs behind Trump are clearly backward, further indication the footage is altered.
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Videos and pictures captured during the convention by news outlets such as USA TODAY and the Associated Press show the former president wearing the bandage on his right ear all four days.
USA TODAY reached out to the users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Lead Stories also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
- USA TODAY, July 16, Watch: Trump makes entrance at RNC with bandaged ear after assassination attempt
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (YouTube), July 18, Donald Trump thanks Milwaukee at 2024 RNC. 'I hope you will remember this in November.'
- C-SPAN, July 15, RNC Convention Speakers
- The Associated Press (YouTube), July 15, LIVE: Day 1 at RNC, including Trump arrival (FULL STREAM)
- Getty Images, July 15, TOPSHOT-US-REPUBLICAN-CONVENTION-PARTIES-ELECTION-POLITICS-VOTE
- Getty Images, July 17, The 2024 Republican National Convention
- Reuters, July 16, Trump at RNC
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Video of Trump wearing bandage on left ear at RNC is altered | Fact check
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