The claim: Image shows Trump post addressing emotional video from Selena Gomez about deportations
A Jan. 28 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a supposed Truth Social post from President Donald Trump.
“Many Hollywood liberals have taken our actions to secure the border very personally, and are no doubt surprised that the government finally did something, after years of inaction,” the supposed post from Trump reads. “Actress Selena Gomez, best known as the third amigo on that murder mystery show that Chevy Chase wouldn’t touch, posted a video to social media where she was in tears over the deportations. Selena, these are people who broke the law by coming here! Some have also committed other horrible crimes. I hope Selena is just as upset about the victims of these crimes. Focus on your career – the people want a sequel to Spring Breakers!”
The Facebook post was shared more than 1,800 times in three days.
No credible evidence Trump made post addressing Gomez
Gomez, who stars in the TV show “Only Murders in the Building” and the film “Emilia Perez,” posted a video to Instagram in which she lamented attacks on “my people” and promised to help those affected by Trump’s immigration orders. Gomez’s tear-filled video, which has since been deleted, included text reading, “I’m sorry” and a Mexican flag emoji.
High-profile political figures reacted to the video. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appeared on “The View” and expressed support for the Golden Globes-nominated actress. White House “border czar” Tom Homan, in a Fox News interview, asked why Gomez wasn’t shedding tears for victims of human trafficking or people who’ve died from drugs brought to the U.S. through the southern border.
But Trump did not weigh in by posting that Gomez should “focus” on her career. The image in the Facebook post is a fabrication.
There is no record of the supposed Truth Social post on Trump’s profile. It also doesn’t appear on Trump’s Truth, a continuously updated and searchable archive of Trump’s Truth Social posts. There have also been no credible news reports covering the post in question as legitimate.
USA TODAY has debunked an array of social media claims involving fabricated social media posts from Trump, including altered posts saying he’ll sign a nationwide ban on porn, he’ll give Staten Island to New Jersey and his would-be assassins are “0-2.”
USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
PolitiFact and Lead Stories also debunked the claim.
