Get PolitiFact in your inbox.

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden steps off a plane Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020 at Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Fla., on a visit for campaign events. (AP) Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden steps off a plane Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020 at Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Fla., on a visit for campaign events. (AP)

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden steps off a plane Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020 at Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Fla., on a visit for campaign events. (AP)

Noah Y. Kim
By Noah Y. Kim September 21, 2020

No, Biden didn’t wave to an empty field in Florida

If Your Time is short

• Biden was waving to firefighters and ground personnel out of frame. ​

• Two videos more clearly show Biden waving toward a firetruck at the other end of the field.

See the sources for this fact-check

On Sept. 15, Joe Biden arrived in Tampa, Fla., for a campaign event, and as he descended the stairs of the airplane, he waved.  

One video capturing the moment spread quickly on social media as Facebook users shared it with derisive captions suggesting Biden was waving to an empty field. However, the video truly took off when Fox News host Sean Hannity posted it to his account with the title, "This Is Real: Biden Waves To An Empty Field."

Yes, the video is real — but the field wasn’t empty. 

This Facebook post was flagged 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

According to an Associated Press reporter who was there with Biden as he left the plane, the Democratic nominee was waving to a group of firefighters and personnel who were out of the  frame due to the camera angle. 

Sign up for PolitiFact texts

Another video of Biden descending the stairs clearly shows him waving in the direction of a firetruck at the other end of the field. And in yet another video shared by Bloomberg News reporter Tyler Pager, four people are seen standing near the fire truck facing him. 

We rate this post False. 

This fact check is available at IFCN’s 2020 US Elections FactChat #Chatbot on WhatsApp. Click here, for more.

Read About Our Process

The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter

Our Sources

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Noah Y. Kim

No, Biden didn’t wave to an empty field in Florida

Load more

Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!

In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.

Sign me up