A story this week asserts that President Obama will be visiting a mosque and host Muslim leaders on July 4. Is this true or false?
The story is fake.
In an article published by the satirical website National Report, we read that White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest announced that the President would be visiting a mosque on July 4 as a “goodwill gesture to Muslim Americans.” The fake article also states that the President would then visit with Muslim leaders.
Many social media readers have angrily shared the article, unaware that it is not real.
President Obama on the South Lawn on July 4, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)About National Report
National Report has a disclaimer which states that the website produces satirical content. The disclaimer – which has been removed (or moved) on several occasions – begins:
*DISCLAIMER: National Report is a news and political satire web publication, which may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictitious ways.
Bottom Line
The story that President Obama would be visiting a mosque and visiting with Muslim leaders on July 4 is not real. It was published as a satire piece from the website National Report. No such plans for the President were announced by the White House.