Former President Donald Trump recently dispatched troops to the border.
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
Old headlines about former President Donald Trump and migrants recycled as breaking news
If Your Time is short
- Former President Donald Trump didn’t just send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, nor does he have the authority to take such action.
Recent Facebook posts have suggested former President Donald Trump is still the commander in chief, dispatching U.S. troops to the border.
"BREAKING," begins one July 22 post. "Trump and Mattis just sent a battalion to the border and they’re bringing hell with them."
"BREAKING," a July 23 post says. "Trump’s troops have arrived! Look what they’re putting on the border to stop the caravan!"
These posts were flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
Featured Fact-check
The July 22 post features a video from YouTube channel The Next News Network, but it’s not breaking. It’s from Oct. 25, 2018, when then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was expected to sign an order sending at least 800 troops to the U.S-Mexico border.
Sign up for PolitiFact texts
The July 23 post, meanwhile, has a video showing a montage of clips of migrants and members of the military set to dramatic music. These, too, appear to be old. One, for example, shows an October 2018 shot of the Guatemala-Mexico border where thousands of migrants were stopped.
Trump is not the president and no longer has the authority to send U.S. troops to any border.
We rate claims that he recently did Pants on Fire!
Our Sources
Facebook post, July 22, 2023
Facebook post, July 23, 2023
YouTube, BREAKING: Trump and Mattis just sent a BATTALION to the border and they’re bringing HELL with them, Oct. 25, 2018
The Associated Press, Trump sends troops to border, an issue that fires up base, Oct. 25, 2018
YouTube, Thousands of migrants stopped at Guatemala-Mexico border | NBC Nightly News, Oct. 20, 2018
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
Old headlines about former President Donald Trump and migrants recycled as breaking news
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.