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Conspiracy theorists had a field day on Wednesday, March 17, when a trick of depth perception made it appear President Joe Biden's hand drifted in front of a microphone as if he were in front of a green screen.
A video of President Biden answering a few questions from reporters has set into motion an explosion of old or exis… https://t.co/EDa8xZQNg3— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan Sardarizadeh) 1616006137.0
Far-right conspiracy theorists went absolutely wild over the video, insisting it was proof of all sorts of outlandish ideas.
@ViewtifulSwan @fwra1234 biden's hand breaks depth-of-field by suddenly appearing in front of on the grey microphon… https://t.co/b93pZGXXhJ— Solus (@Solus) 1615958015.0
DEEPFAKE: Watch for Biden putting his hand through a Mic at the front. This is like Kim Jong ill. https://t.co/qmfu8ZzlNH— banthebbc (@banthebbc) 1615966929.0
Biden’s Hand Magically Floats Through Mic: The Media Is Lying To You - Conservative Daily Post https://t.co/CbNnwqcCkJ— Stanley E Cook (@Stanley E Cook) 1616052350.0
Of course, there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for the strange shot, which many were quick to point out on Twitter.
@mattcrotts Shotgun mics on boom poles. Biden leans over them. Looks funny, but not green screened. His hands ar… https://t.co/f2iRsRtCdI— Jess Purviance (@Jess Purviance) 1616080421.0
@mattcrotts Here's the other video. https://t.co/QCQ51t6xIL— Jess Purviance (@Jess Purviance) 1616080502.0
Here are a few examples of the vareity of false claims being made about the video, sometimes by well-known, mainstr… https://t.co/x6PZIgVHBZ— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan Sardarizadeh) 1616006138.0
As far as conspiracy theories go, this was a pretty easy one to debunk.
That large, grey microphone is actually further to the right of Biden's hands, not in front of them. There are mul… https://t.co/3UUKuFfaG4— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan Sardarizadeh) 1616006141.0
I was the one holding the lighter-colored fuzzy microphone and thus literally in front of @POTUS on the South Lawn… https://t.co/84XAiBszVZ— Steve Herman (@Steve Herman) 1616006400.0
And here are a few more examples how far and wide this obviously false claim has been spreading since last night 👇 https://t.co/4uAaYzQ79T— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan Sardarizadeh) 1616006701.0
But as quickly as some Twitter users tried to throw down logic, others spewed yet more insanity.
@ABC I noticed that this is green screened or Biden is elemented in. The noise is distorted as well and the top of… https://t.co/olzTnz9dE6— Foxx Primeau (@Foxx Primeau) 1615984721.0
Sadly, for those who hoped President Biden was some sort of superhero, it seems he's just as mortal as the rest of us—unable to phase through microphones.