1993 Image Used to Show ‘Biden’s Inaugural Stage’ at White House

Several social media users have shared an aerial view of the White House with the claim that it shows the inaugural stage being set up for US President-elect Joe Biden. However, we found that the image is from 1993 and shows the inaugural ceremony of former US President Bill Clinton.

CLAIM

The image is being shared with a text that reads: “If you’re having a bad day, just remember, Trump is watching Biden’s inaugural stage being built on the White House North Lawn. For the next 59 days. (sic)”

Several social media users have shared the image on Twitter and Facebook with the same narrative.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT

We reverse searched the viral image on TinEye and found the same on Alamy with the caption: “Aerial Photography, William J. Clinton Presidential Inauguration, aerial of White House.”

William J Clinton is the byname of Bill Clinton.

We then searched on Google using relevant keywords and found the same image on the website of Smithsonian Institution Archives with the caption: “William J. Clinton Presidential Inauguration, aerial view of White House, 1993”.

We compared the image captured in 1993 with the viral image and found several similarities in terms of positioning of the inaugural stage, vehicles among others.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) that is responsible for the “planning and execution of the Inaugural Ceremonies of the President-elect and Vice President-elect of the United States” has been sharing pictures of the preparation for 59th inaugural ceremonies.

Looking good, West Front! Here’s a glimpse of the progress made in the last week on the Inaugural Platform for the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies. pic.twitter.com/8QOWHDqka1

— JCCIC (@JCCIC) November 20, 2020

68 days until the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies at the @USCapitol. #Inaugural59 construction continues! pic.twitter.com/w9WpWR2CSF

— JCCIC (@JCCIC) November 13, 2020

Evidently, an old image from the inaugural ceremony of Bill Clinton was shared to falsely claim that it shows the construction of Joe Biden’s inaugural stage.

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