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Fact Check: MSNBC Did Not Use 2017 Footage for 2025 “No Kings” Protest Coverage
Claims that MSNBC aired outdated footage from 2017 to cover the recent “No Kings” protest in Boston have been determined to be false after thorough verification by multiple sources.
On October 18, 2025, as thousands of demonstrators participated in nationwide “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump’s administration, social media platforms became flooded with allegations questioning the authenticity of MSNBC’s coverage. One widely shared Facebook post declared: “BREAKING: Analysts are calling this the biggest FRAUD in American history. MSNBC falsely aired a Video from 2017 claiming it was LIVE footage from yesterday’s ‘No Kings’ rally in Boston.”
The disputed footage, which aired on Ali Velshi’s program “Velshi on MSNBC,” showed protesters gathered at Boston Common. The viral claim quickly gained traction across multiple platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Threads, prompting numerous inquiries about its veracity.
Upon investigation, the allegations proved baseless. An MSNBC spokesperson confirmed via email that the broadcast footage was indeed recorded on October 18, 2025, the actual date of the protest. The network stood by its coverage as authentic and contemporary.
Further verification came through comparative analysis with other media outlets. Side-by-side examinations of footage from local Boston stations WBTS and WCVB – which covered the same event – revealed identical stage setups, speaker arrangements, screen placements, and crowd configurations. All three video sources showed consistent seasonal indicators, including trees with the characteristic green and orange foliage typical of Boston in mid-October.
Another telling detail present in all three broadcasts was a temporary green gazebo that had been erected specifically for the event – a structure that is not permanently installed at Boston Common. The crowd density and size appeared consistent across all footage, further confirming they captured the same contemporary event.
The false claim appears to have originated from a proposed Community Note on X, attached to protest footage shared by a popular anti-Trump account. According to X’s transparency features, the misleading note came from “an experimental AI contributor responding to requests for a note” – essentially an automated suggestion that failed X’s verification process and was never officially published as a Community Note.
Ironically, Grok – the AI chatbot developed by xAI – separately confirmed in responses to users that the footage did indeed show the October 18 protest in Boston, contradicting the false narrative generated by another AI system.
The “No Kings” movement describes itself as a peaceful protest organization opposed to the Trump administration. According to organizers, the October 18 demonstrations drew over 7 million participants nationwide, with Boston’s event alone expecting more than 100,000 attendees. Local police reported no arrests during the Boston demonstration.
The protests attracted attention from the highest levels of government, with both President Trump and Vice President JD Vance responding on social media. Their posts included AI-generated videos appearing to mock the protesters – one showing Trump wearing a crown in front of kneeling Democrats, and another depicting him dropping what appeared to be feces on demonstrators.
This incident highlights the growing challenge of misinformation in a politically charged environment, particularly as the line between authentic content and AI-generated or manipulated media continues to blur. As protest movements and political tensions intensify, the verification of news footage becomes increasingly crucial for maintaining public trust in media reporting.
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11 Comments
Glad to see MSNBC’s coverage was verified as accurate. Spreading misinformation about media bias is a serious issue we need to address. Fact-checking is crucial to upholding journalistic integrity.
Absolutely. Maintaining trust in the media is vital for a healthy democracy. Kudos to MSNBC for responding transparently and clearing up the false claims.
While I appreciate the desire to hold the media accountable, making unsubstantiated claims can be counterproductive. I’m glad the facts were able to be established in this case.
Exactly. Jumping to conclusions without verifying the facts only serves to undermine public trust in the media. Responsible journalism should be the goal, not unfounded accusations.
This is a good reminder to be cautious about unsubstantiated claims circulating on social media, especially around major news events. Fact-checking is the responsible way to assess the credibility of reporting.
Agreed. Spreading misinformation, whether intentionally or not, can have real consequences. Responsible journalism and critical thinking are essential to combat the spread of false narratives.
It’s encouraging to see that the allegations against MSNBC’s coverage were investigated and found to be false. Maintaining journalistic integrity is crucial, especially during times of social unrest.
This highlights the need for better media literacy education to help people critically evaluate news sources and spot potential misinformation. Fact-checking is an essential part of responsible reporting.
It’s disheartening to see accusations of media bias, even when they are unfounded. Maintaining trust in news sources is crucial, so I’m glad MSNBC was able to clear this up.
Absolutely. Transparency and accountability are key to upholding the integrity of journalism. This serves as a good lesson on the importance of verifying claims before spreading them.
The ability to quickly verify and debunk false claims is an important part of maintaining journalistic standards. Kudos to the fact-checkers for their diligence in this case.