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By Reuters Fact Check
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An edited clip allegedly showing a Greenpeace banner at a Las Vegas Trump International Hotel is making rounds online again. The sign has been digitally altered and the author has previously circulated versions of the video with other banners.
The 19-seconds-clip is made to appear to show a yellow banner hanging from the top of Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas ( bit.ly/3sOnlIf ). The banner, under the letters “Trump” carries a Greenpeace logo in the bottom right corner and reads: “has a little mushroom dick.”
Some online appear to think the banner is authentic. Comments include: “As long as no one was hurt in this incident, free speech is at its best here. #SaveAmericaVoteBlue” ( here ) and “How has this not had more coverage?” ( here )
The clip was posted on Feb. 13, 2022 with the caption “Happening at the Trump Tower in Las Vegas right now…” ( here ) (archived version: here). As of the writing of this article, it has garnered over 216,100 views. The user also posted it on Facebook ( here ), and appears to be the creator of the clip.
In another tweet on Feb. 14, the user acknowledged the clip is not authentic and that he had created “5 variations” of it ( here ).
This variation is also viewable in an earlier post on his Facebook profile, where he identifies as “Tom Adelsbach” ( here ) on March 15, 2019. On March 17, 2019 ( here ) Adelsbach described the clip as a “fake video.”
Another version of the clip with a blue sign that reads “is impeached forever” was posted by the user on Feb. 19, 2020 ( here ).
Adelsbach confirmed to Reuters via email that he “shot the video, and altered it.”
Jenna DiPaolo, a spokesperson for Greenpeace USA confirmed to Reuters via email that the banner in the video “are not Greenpeace US actions.”
AFP, LeadStories and the AP have previously addressed other iterations of the clip ( here ) ( here ) ( here ).
False. This video has been doctored to include a fabricated Greenpeace banner.
(Update Jan. 16, 2022: Replacing paragraph 8 to include response from creator of the video)
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our work to fact-check social media posts here.
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