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In the wake of the nationwide “No Kings” rallies on October 18, a controversy erupted over crowd sizes when several conservative figures, including Senator Ted Cruz, accused media outlets of using footage from 2017 to exaggerate attendance.
The claim first gained traction when multiple social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter) alleged that MSNBC had committed “the biggest FRAUD in American history” by airing video from the 2017 Women’s March and presenting it as live footage from the Boston “No Kings” rally.
Senator Cruz amplified the allegations by resharing a post from Senator Elizabeth Warren that included MSNBC footage of the Boston rally. “Why are Dems dishonestly sending around a video from 2017, claiming it was this past weekend?” Cruz wrote in a post that has since been removed from his account.
However, the claim has been thoroughly debunked. The footage aired by MSNBC was authentic and did indeed show the October 18 “No Kings” rally in Boston. This was confirmed by comparing MSNBC’s coverage with similar aerial shots broadcast by four Boston-area television stations—WBZ (CBS), WCVB (ABC), WFXT (Fox), and WBTS (NBC)—as well as WMUR-TV in New Hampshire. All aired comparable footage of the large gathering at Boston Common on that day.
Using the television monitoring service TVEyes, fact-checkers verified that the contested MSNBC footage was broadcast around 11:35 a.m. Eastern Time on October 18, directly contradicting claims that it originated from 2017.
The “No Kings” rallies were organized by dozens of liberal groups, including environmental organizations and labor unions, and took place across multiple cities nationwide. Organizers estimate that up to 7 million people participated across the country, with approximately 125,000 attending the Boston Common event.
According to nationally crowdsourced estimates compiled by G. Elliott Morris, former editor of FiveThirtyEight.com, Boston’s rally was the fourth largest in the country, behind gatherings in New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Morris’s median national attendance estimate ranged between 5.2 million and 8.2 million participants.
The false claims appear to have gained traction partly due to X’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok. Several posts spreading the misinformation included screenshots of a “proposed” community note—part of X’s crowdsourced fact-checking system—that had not been approved. According to the BBC, this proposed note was generated by artificial intelligence and contained links that failed to substantiate the claim that the footage was from 2017.
This incident echoes controversies from 2017 when then-President Trump disputed crowd size comparisons between his inauguration and the Women’s March, which was estimated to have drawn 470,000 people to Washington, D.C.
The spread of this false information highlights ongoing challenges with misinformation on social media platforms, particularly regarding politically charged events. It also underscores how quickly prominent political figures can amplify unverified claims to their large follower bases, potentially misleading the public about significant political movements.
When contacted for comment, Senator Cruz’s office did not respond, and MSNBC similarly did not reply to inquiries about the footage.
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7 Comments
The allegations of media bias are concerning, but I’m glad to see the footage has been verified. Accurate reporting is crucial, especially on issues that intersect with the mining and energy sectors.
I’m curious to learn more about the details of this controversy. Were there any legitimate issues with the MSNBC coverage, or did the claims of fraud seem unfounded? It’s important to get the facts straight.
As a mining/commodities enthusiast, I don’t have a strong opinion on the political aspects of this story. But I’m interested in how it may impact public discourse around important issues like energy and resource extraction.
This looks like a complex issue with valid concerns on both sides. I appreciate the efforts to get to the bottom of it and provide clarity, rather than just fueling partisan tensions.
As someone interested in commodities and energy, I don’t have a strong partisan stance on this political controversy. But I’m glad to see the reporting is being scrutinized to ensure accuracy.
This seems like a complex issue with valid concerns on both sides. I appreciate the efforts to verify the footage and provide clarity. Objective analysis is key to moving the conversation forward productively.
It’s concerning to see accusations of media bias over coverage of the ‘No Kings’ protests. Fact-checking the footage is important to ensure accurate reporting and prevent the spread of misinformation.