“Donald Trump gave his big speech today with his pants on backward.”
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
Donald Trump’s pants weren’t backward
If Your Time is short
- Photos from a speech given by former president Donald Trump on June 5 show a zipper in the front of his pants, contrary to claims that he was wearing them backward.
In some ways, presidents are just like us — they put their pants on one leg at a time. But after former president Donald Trump’s speech at a Republican Party convention in North Carolina on June 5, his critics on social media are suggesting that he does this backward.
"Donald Trump gave his big speech today with his pants on backward," one post says.
It 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.)
Trump’s pants, wrinkled in the thighs, drew considerable notice online as some people speculated that he had accidentally put them on backward and zipped them up from behind.
Featured Fact-check
While some images appear to show Trump wearing pants without a front zipper, news coverage from his speech proves otherwise.
Sign up for PolitiFact texts
A pants fly is visible below his tie in several photos taken by Getty Images photographer Melissa Sue Gerrits.
We rate claims that his pants were backwards False.
Our Sources
Instagram post, June 6, 2021
Getty Images, Donald Trump speech photo, June 5, 2021
Getty Images, Donald Trump speech photo, June 5, 2021
Getty Images, Donald Trump speech photo, June 5, 2021
Getty Images, Donald Trump speech photo, June 5, 2021
Getty Images, Donald Trump speech photo, June 5, 2021
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
Donald Trump’s pants weren’t backward
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.