Social media users, including Donald J. Trump Jr., have been pouring scorn on the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, wrongly saying it changed guidelines to tell people to wear facemasks and keep up social distancing in the event of a nuclear explosion.
However, the changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) guidelines on nuclear blasts were made in November 2020, during the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Examples of the mocking posts can be seen ( here ) and (here ).
Many posts wrongly suggest Biden’s administration made the changes in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The text in one reads: “Idiocy is pervasive throughout this entire administration: Biden WH is US mocked for nuclear attack guidance including social distancing & mask-wearing #TheGreatAmericaShow.”
Comments on the posts include: “No longer can I take anything Biden says or does seriously. one huge joke that has been perpetrated on the American people”, “Worthless puppet. Impeach this administration” and “This administration is so embarrassing!”
The false report was also shared by Donald J. Trump Jr. on Instagram (here) with the caption: “You literally can’t make this stuff up anymore. Our government wants us to make sure we socially distance in the event of nuclear war because obviously you’re worried about dying of Covid and not nuclear fallout. These are not serious people they are imbeciles.”
The claim was also shared by an article in The Sun (here ).
The posts include a screenshot of a page on ready.gov (here) that gives guidance on what to do in the event of a nuclear explosion. One section reads: “Go to the basement or middle of the building. Stay away from the outer walls and roof. Try to maintain a distance of at least six feet between yourself and people who are not part of your household. If possible, wear a mask if you’re sheltering with people who are not a part of your household.”
Archives of this page show that the part about social distancing and face masks was added in November 2020. An archived version of the page on Nov. 8, 2020 (here) does not have the wording while another archived version captured on Nov. 11, 2020 (here) does.
FEMA did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
VERDICT
Missing context. FEMA guidance on social distancing and facial coverings after a nuclear explosion was published in November 2020 during the Trump administration.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work here .
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