Fact Check: Did Biden once leave his wife and son on Air Force Two over death threat?

WASHINGTON, DC: Following President Donald Trump’s secret escape from Turkey due to assassination threats from Iran, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that former President Joe Biden once left his wife and son behind due to similar threats.

The claim sparked criticism and speculation, prompting a fact check into the rumor.

Claim: Joe Biden left his wife and son behind due to threats

According to a viral post that surfaced on X, Biden, when he was the Vice President, left his wife and son aboard Air Force Two and fled a credible threat in a single-engine Coast Guard plane. 

The post even slammed the media for criticising Trump for his escape from Turkey for the same security maneuver by leaving behind his staff and press, while remaining silent about Biden, who allegedly left behind his family.

The claim drew conflicting reactions from social media users, with many appearing to believe the claim to be true, while others questioned its authenticity and called for a fact check.

Fact Check: No credible evidence to support the claim

The claim, however, is false and fabricated, as there is no credible evidence that the former Biden left his wife and son behind on Air Force Two due to credible threats.

The post also does not mention the exact time or place when the alleged event happened, making the claim less credible. A search on Google for the claim yielded no relevant reports by credible news media outlets, which, if true, would not go unreported.

Moreover, the account that posted the claim is not credible and has posted similar fake and exaggerated claims, likely intended as satire, for the sake of engagement.

Donald Trump left staff and press behind during Turkey escape

The claim surfaced after Trump drew intense scrutiny for leaving his staff and press behind on Air Force One due to assassination threats.

The Washington Post reported that airport security personnel in Turkey moved Trump from the aircraft presented as Air Force One to the public to a smaller Air Force C-32A. 

According to the report, the operation involved an airport catering truck, which was used to move the president without drawing attention to his departure, while the Air Force One carrying journalists reached the United Kingdom and were unaware that Trump was not on the plane.

“Oh, I have a threat all the time. I'm number one on their list, before you. But if I go, you go, right? So perhaps, perhaps I may want to change professions. If I go, you go,” Trump said when asked about the threat.