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In a recent fact-checking investigation, claims that circulated widely across social media regarding President Donald Trump allegedly soiling himself during a White House ceremony have been debunked as false and misleading.
The incident in question occurred during the December 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees ceremony held in the Oval Office, where President Trump presented medals to this year’s recipients. Shortly after the event, numerous video clips began circulating online showing Monique Frehley, daughter of honoree and late Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, appearing to scrunch her face during Trump’s remarks.
These clips quickly went viral, with captions and posts alleging that Frehley was reacting to an unpleasant odor after the president had soiled himself. Some posts derisively referred to the president as “DiaperDon,” furthering the unsubstantiated narrative.
However, a thorough review of the official White House footage reveals no evidence supporting these claims. The complete video of the ceremony shows Monique Frehley simply smiling and reacting to jokes made by Trump during his speech. Other honorees standing nearby displayed no unusual reactions that would suggest detecting any odor.
During the relevant portion of the ceremony, which occurs around the 9:05-minute mark in the official recording, President Trump was discussing his unusual role hosting the awards—traditionally handled by artists or comedians. “I’m sure they’ll give me great reviews, right? They’ll say, ‘he was horrible. He was terrible. It was a horrible situation.’ No, we’ll do fine. I’ve watched some of the people that host. Jimmy Kimmel was horrible,” Trump remarked, drawing reactions from the assembled guests.
The selective framing of video clips shared on social media created a misleading impression about Frehley’s reaction. Additionally, photographic evidence from Getty Images confirms that Frehley was standing farther from the president than the viral clips suggested, further undermining the claim.
The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recognized several prominent figures in the performing arts, including actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, actor and singer Michael Crawford, country music legend George Strait, and the iconic rock band Kiss. The prestigious awards are presented annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to American culture through the performing arts.
This incident represents the latest in a series of unverified or fabricated claims about the president’s bodily functions that have circulated during his political career. Similar unfounded rumors have previously been fact-checked and debunked by various media outlets.
The rapid spread of this miscaptioned content highlights ongoing challenges with misinformation on social media platforms, where selective editing and false context can rapidly transform mundane moments into viral controversy. Media literacy experts continue to emphasize the importance of seeking original, unedited sources before accepting narratives presented in short, decontextualized clips.
White House officials did not directly address the false claims, focusing instead on the ceremonial significance of the event honoring the cultural contributions of the Kennedy Center recipients.
The Kennedy Center Honors typically culminate in a gala performance at the Kennedy Center, with this year’s ceremony following tradition despite the initial controversy generated by the misleading social media posts.
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12 Comments
While I’m no fan of Trump, this fact check makes it clear there’s no credible evidence to support the claims about this incident. Spreading unverified rumors, even about those we dislike, only undermines the truth.
While I’m no fan of Trump, these allegations appear unfounded based on the review of the official footage. Spreading unsubstantiated rumors, even about those we disagree with, undermines the credibility of legitimate criticism.
Glad to see a fact-based investigation into this claim. It’s a good reminder that we should be cautious about believing viral social media posts, no matter how salacious they may seem. Verifying information is key.
I appreciate this fact-based approach to investigating the claims. It’s a good model for how to handle potentially salacious stories responsibly, without jumping to conclusions or spreading misinformation.
Agreed. Maintaining journalistic integrity and sticking to the facts, even when reporting on polarizing figures, is crucial for upholding trust in the media.
It’s good to see a thorough investigation into these allegations. Even if we may dislike a public figure, we should strive to be objective and fact-based in our criticism, not succumb to unsubstantiated gossip.
It’s concerning how quickly misinformation can spread these days, even about relatively trivial matters. This fact check highlights the importance of checking sources and not jumping to conclusions, no matter our personal views.
Agreed. Responsible reporting and fact-checking are essential to combat the tide of misinformation online.
This is a helpful reminder to be skeptical of sensational claims, especially those spread on social media. Verifying information from reliable sources is so important, no matter our personal views on the subject.
This is a good example of how misinformation can spread quickly online, especially about high-profile people. It’s wise to approach such claims skeptically and look for reliable sources before believing them.
This story illustrates how easy it is for false narratives to gain traction, even around high-profile public figures. Maintaining journalistic integrity and verifying claims before reporting them is crucial.
Interesting fact check. It’s important to verify claims before spreading them, even about public figures. The video doesn’t seem to show any evidence of the alleged incident. Responsible journalism is crucial.