Fact Check: Did Rihanna protest outside Trump's residence on Women's March 2026?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: On Sunday, March 8, several protesters marched to Trump Tower as part of nationwide Women’s March events to commemorate International Women’s Day.
The protesters gathered in the Loop’s Daley Plaza as they carried signs with references to abortion, immigration, the Iran war, and women’s rights.
Following this, a clip circulated across social media platforms claiming that pop star Rihanna was part of the protest outside Trump Tower at the Women's March. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.
Claim: Rihanna protested outside Trump Tower at the Women's March
A clip circulated on the social media platform X, claiming to show Rihanna protesting outside the Trump Tower during the Women's March on Sunday.
The caption of the X post read, "Rihanna protesting outside Trump Tower at the Women's March." The viral clip showed a side angle of a woman's face who was wearing a cap.
Rihanna protesting outside Trump Tower at the Women's March. pic.twitter.com/njT752HSLI
— 𝖌𝖆𝖇 (@gabgonebad) March 8, 2026
However, the person's face was not completely visible.
The Sunday event started with speeches from local activists, elected officials, and candidates running for office. They talked about the importance of women advocating for equality under the Trump administration and voting in upcoming elections.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: A small group of women is marching down Central Park in New York City, carrying anti-Trump signs and chanting/singing about how the Trump administration is apparently the biggest threat to their freedom.@Bodittle | @TPUSA pic.twitter.com/nhi7pIgKQZ
— FRONTLINES TPUSA (@FrontlinesTPUSA) March 8, 2026
Jane Ruby, the president of the League of Women Voters of Chicago, told attendees, "International Women’s Day matters because women have never been handed justice. Women have organized for it, marched for it, demanded it, won it, and still, we are fighting."
The speakers also called for an end to violence abroad in Iran, and at home in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers. Some also mentioned specific legislation activists say is holding women back.
After an hour of speeches, the protesters started marching north on Dearborn Street, while chanting "Chicago is a protest town" as they walked.
Fact Check: False, clip is from 2017
The claim made in the viral post that Rihanna was part of the protest outside Trump Tower at the Women's March on Sunday is false, as the clip circulated online is from 2017.
The clip that resurfaced recently on X is from January 21, 2017, the day of the global Women's March protesting Donald Trump's inauguration. The short video has been recirculated multiple times, such as in 2022, but the March 2026 repost presents it without context, implying it is the latest one.
Moreover, there is no evidence of Rihanna attending a Women's March in 2026, and recent marches, such as 2025, also do not feature her or matching footage.
Furthermore, the video's low resolution and 2017-specific elements, such as the iconic pink hat, no modern protest gear, confirm that the video is old. Several media outlets also covered the protest back in 2017.