A recent social media post on X (formerly Twitter) falsely suggested that Republican vice-presidential nominee Senator J.D. Vance’s campaign rally in Byron Center, Michigan, on August 14, 2024, had poor attendance. The viral image, shared by the account “Kamala’s Wins,” depicted a nearly empty room with rows of unoccupied white folding chairs, misleading viewers into believing that the event was sparsely attended. However, this portrayal is incorrect.
A short break down:
- Photo Timing: The image was posted nearly two hours before Vance’s speech began. At that time, the event had not yet started, and attendees were still arriving.
- Actual Crowd Size: Credible sources such as The Washington Post and C-SPAN show that the crowd grew considerably before Vance took the stage. By the time he spoke, nearly all seats were filled, with additional people standing in shaded areas.
- Event Coverage: Major outlets like The Associated Press, and Getty Images reported that several hundred people attended the event. Although the venue was smaller compared to other campaign stops, it was far from empty as implied by the viral photo.
The viral photo does not accurately reflect the attendance at JD Vance’s Michigan rally. The event had a significant turnout, contrary to the social media claims. This incident highlights the importance of considering the context and timing of images before accepting them as true representations of events.
