Says Tom Hanks was photographed wearing a T-shirt with an anti-Trump message that begins, "I was going to be a Trump voter for Halloween but…"
Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
Tom Hanks at the 2018 Los Angeles Film Festival on Sept. 22, 2018. (AP)
No, Tom Hanks did not wear a T-shirt bearing this vulgar anti-Trump Halloween message
A-list celebrity Tom Hanks has not held his cards close to his vest when it comes to his political views.
He twice endorsed Barack Obama for president, spoke out against Donald Trump when a recording of then-presidential candidate’s lewd comments about grabbing women was made public and is among the celebrities standing with the "When We All Vote" voter-registration campaign launched by former first lady Michelle Obama.
But in a recent post shared more than 70,000 times on Facebook, Hanks is falsely depicted wearing a white T-shirt that reads, "I was going to be a Trump voter for Halloween but my head wouldn’t fit up my a--."
This viral photo was flagged by PolitiFact as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
Featured Fact-check
The image is actually a doctored version of a photograph taken of Hanks on May 21, 2010, while he was on the set of the movie "Larry Crowne" in Los Angeles. Peppa Chapple, an assignments editor with Pacific Coast News, confirms the original image was shot by photographer Juan Sharma. In its original, Hanks’ shirt is plain white without any wording on it.
Sign up for PolitiFact texts
We rate this viral image Pants on Fire.
Our Sources
Viral Facebook image, published Sept. 28, 2018
Pacific Coast News image, May 21, 2010
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Rebecca Catalanello
No, Tom Hanks did not wear a T-shirt bearing this vulgar anti-Trump Halloween message
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.