Fact Check: Did Mark Carney offer $6000 to vote against Republicans in the midterms?
WASHINGTON, DC: Ahead of the Midterm elections and amid the trade war between the United States and Canada, a rumor is circulating on social media platforms claiming that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has offered Americans $6000 to vote against Republicans in the midterms. The claim has sparked concern and speculation, prompting a fact-check.
Claim: Mark Carney offered $6000 to vote against Republicans
The claim surfaced in a Facebook post, stating that Carney offered every adult American $6000 to vote against Republicans in the midterms, calling it an effort to “restore sanity.”
“If you oust the Republicans, you’ll receive a check for $6000,” he allegedly said at a press conference. “And to be clear, we’re talking American dollars, not Canadian.”
The post ended by stating that Carney concluded his press conference by unveiling a new map of North America with the United States renamed “South Canada.”
The post has gained hundreds of thousands of views, evoking mixed reactions among online users. Many mocked Carney, while others criticized him, suggesting that many appeared to believe the claim is real. Only a few questioned its authenticity and called for a fact-check.
Fact Check: Mark Carney made no such offer
However, the claim is false, as no reports of Carney making such an unlikely remark ahead of the midterms exist.
Despite the trade wars and the exchange between Carney and President Donald Trump, there are no official statements, announcements, or press releases from the Canadian PM that support the rumor.
If Carney had really made such an offer, it would not go unreported by credible news outlets, which would lead to widespread controversy and backlash.
Additionally, the claim originated from a parody news outlet called ‘The Borowitz Report,’ which describes itself in the Facebook bio as ‘Comedian.’
The claim is based on Trump’s promise of $5000 to every adult if the Republicans win the November elections.
Donald Trump promises $5000 to every adult
"Here is my promise: If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them, because of our tremendous economic success, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000," Trump said.
Trump proposed this during his speech at the first-ever GOP midterm convention in Texas, making it the first public announcement of the proposed payment, which he described as a return tied to what he called the country’s economic success.
