Fact Check: Has Michelle Obama been receiving $122K a month from the GSA since 2009?
WASHINGTON, DC: Posts claiming that former first lady Michelle Obama has been receiving a monthly payment of $122,000 from the General Services Administration (GSA) since 2009 have been circulating widely on social media.
On February 28, the Facebook page, America - Love It Or Leave It, posted a image with the text, "Michelle Obama has been receiving a monthly payment from the GSA for $122,000 since 2009. Nobody seems to know why."
The post was hared with the caption, "DOGE intends to find out," referencing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
Claim: Michelle Obama receives $122,000 monthly from the General Services Administration for no apparent reason
Similar rumors were shared on other Facebook pages, including America's Last Line of Defense and Reagan Was Right. Additionally, an article from a website called The Dunning-Kruger Times carried the headline: "Michelle Obama Has Been Receiving a Monthly $122,000 Payment from the GSA Since 2009."
The article from The Dunning-Kruger Times began with the statement: "A newly uncovered General Services Administration (GSA) report has revealed that Michelle Obama has been receiving a mysterious $122,000 per month from the federal government since 2009. While the payments were initially marked as 'Services to the Nation', a deeper investigation has revealed the incredibly bizarre reasons behind the expense."
It further read, "According to GSA officials, the payments were essential to maintaining American morale, and Michelle Obama was compensated for her 'invaluable contributions to the well-being of the public.'"
This led to confusion among some social media users about the claim's authenticity, with one asking, "Is this for real?"
Fact Check: Claim that Michelle Obama receives $122,000 per month from the GSA isn't real
However, no evidence has surfaced to support the claim that Michelle Obama has been receiving such payments. The rumor originated from America's Last Line of Defense, a network known for publishing parody and satire, according to the fact-checking website Snopes.
The memes and posts from these pages included a small "satire" label that read, "Nothing on this page is real."
Additionally, the Dunning-Kruger Times website’s "About Us" page, which is also managed by the same network, includes the disclaimer: "Everything on this website is fiction. It is not a lie and it is not fake news because it is not real."
"If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined. Any similarities between this site's pure fantasy and actual people, places and events are purely coincidental and all images should be considered altered and satirical," it adds.
In conclusion, the claim that Michelle has been receiving $122,000 a month from the GSA since 2009 is entirely false and originated from satirical and fictional sources.
