Alternative Facts
Political Misinformation Controversy
CLASSIFICATION: Financial Crime
LOCATION
Washington, D.C.
TIME PERIOD
January 20, 2017
VICTIMS
0 confirmed
On January 21, 2017, during his first press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer falsely claimed that President Donald Trump's inauguration had the largest audience in history, both in person and globally. This statement was made in response to media reports that indicated lower attendance compared to Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. The incident occurred at the White House, and U.S. Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway later defended Spicer's remarks by introducing the term "alternative facts" during a subsequent interview on January 22, 2017. The phrase sparked widespread criticism and was deemed Orwellian, leading to a significant increase in sales of George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four." The current status of the case is that it remains a notable example of political misinformation, with ongoing discussions regarding the implications of such statements on public discourse and media credibility. Key evidence includes ridership data from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which contradicts Spicer's claims about attendance numbers.
Community analysis and theories will be displayed here when available.
The Birth of "Alternative Facts": A Political Controversy
The Genesis of a Phrase
On January 22, 2017, a new term entered the American lexicon, one that would stir debates and fuel controversies across the nation: "alternative facts." This phrase was coined by Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President, during a Meet the Press interview. Conway was defending White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer's inaccurate claim regarding the attendance numbers at President Donald Trump's inauguration. When pressed by interviewer Chuck Todd about Spicer's "provable falsehood," Conway retorted that Spicer was merely providing "alternative facts." Todd quipped back, "Look, alternative facts are not facts. They're falsehoods."
The Media Firestorm
Conway's phrase instantly ignited a firestorm on social media and drew sharp criticism from journalists and media outlets. Notable figures such as Dan Rather and Jill Abramson, as well as the Public Relations Society of America, lambasted the term as Orwellian, akin to concepts like "doublethink" from George Orwell's novel, "Nineteen Eighty-Four." Within days, sales of Orwell's dystopian classic surged 95-fold, catapulting it to the top of Amazon.com's bestseller list.
In an article by Olivia Nuzzi, Conway later attempted to clarify her meaning, suggesting that "alternative facts" referred to "additional facts and alternative information," akin to how different perspectives can yield the same numerical outcomes, like "two plus two is four" or "three plus one is four."
The Controversial Claims
The controversy began a day earlier, on January 21, 2017, when Sean Spicer delivered his first press briefing as White House Press Secretary. Spicer accused the media of deliberately underestimating the crowd size at Trump's inauguration, claiming it was the "largest audience to ever witness an inauguration – period – both in person and around the globe." However, photographic evidence and rapid transit data contradicted Spicer's assertions, showing that the turnout was significantly lower than Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration. Spicer claimed that 420,000 people rode the D.C. Metro on inauguration day 2017, compared to 317,000 in 2013, without providing sources or clarifying time comparisons. In reality, Metro ridership from midnight to 11 AM was 193,000 in 2017 and 317,000 in 2013, with full-day figures of 570,557 in 2017 and 782,000 in 2013.
Spicer also incorrectly stated that white ground coverings, which he claimed made the crowd appear smaller, were used for the first time during Trump's inauguration. In fact, these coverings had been used in 2013 for Obama's second swearing-in. Notably, Spicer did not field questions during this press briefing.
Conway's Defense
In her Meet the Press interview, Conway defended Spicer's assertions by introducing the concept of "alternative facts." Chuck Todd challenged her, emphasizing that "alternative facts are not facts," but falsehoods. Conway countered, arguing that crowd numbers couldn't be precisely determined and accused Todd of attempting to make her appear ridiculous. She later elaborated that "alternative facts" meant "additional facts and alternative information."
Two days after the briefing, Spicer corrected his statements about WMATA ridership, insisting he had relied on provided statistics. He maintained that the inauguration was the most-viewed, including online and television audiences.
Further Missteps and Reactions
Conway's comments on "alternative facts" continued to resonate throughout the week. She referred to "alternative information" and "incomplete information" in subsequent statements. In defending Trump's travel restrictions, Conway mentioned a nonexistent "Bowling Green massacre," which she later clarified was a reference to the 2011 arrest of two Iraqis in Kentucky for aiding insurgents in Iraq. These missteps led critics to assert that Conway had taken "alternative facts" to new extremes.
The phrase "alternative facts" was likened to "truthful hyperbole," a term from Trump's 1987 book, "Trump: The Art of the Deal." Tony Schwartz, the book's ghostwriter, claimed authorship of the phrase, noting Trump's approval of it.
Legal and Cultural Reactions
The term "alternative facts" quickly permeated popular culture. Comedians like Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert crafted segments parodying the concept. CNN launched its "Facts First" campaign in response to the burgeoning era of fake news and alternative facts. The phrase even made its way into speeches by Robert De Niro and Steven Spielberg, with Spielberg emphasizing the fight for objective truth.
On January 24, 2017, the Public Relations Society of America issued a statement condemning the use of "alternative facts," asserting that it reflected poorly on communication professionals.
In a legal context, fifteen law professors filed a disciplinary complaint against Conway with the D.C. Bar's Office of Disciplinary Conduct, citing her pattern of misrepresentation, including the use of "alternative facts."
Global Impact
The impact of "alternative facts" extended beyond U.S. borders. German and Austrian linguists declared the phrase the "un-word" of 2017. The term's cultural relevance was further immortalized in the 2017 satirical short film, "Alternative Math."
Sources
To explore more, visit the original Wikipedia article: Alternative Facts on Wikipedia
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Trump's Inauguration
Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States.
Spicer's First Press Briefing
Sean Spicer holds his first press briefing, making false claims about inauguration crowd size.
Conway's 'Alternative Facts'
Kellyanne Conway uses the term 'alternative facts' during a Meet the Press interview.
PRSA Statement
The Public Relations Society of America condemns the use of 'alternative facts' by Conway.
Sales of '1984' Surge
Sales of George Orwell's '1984' increase dramatically following Conway's comments.
Legal Complaint Filed
Fifteen law professors file a complaint against Conway for professional misconduct.
Conway Defends Remarks
Conway further defends her use of 'alternative facts' in various interviews.
Un-Word of the Year
German linguists declare 'alternative facts' the un-word of the year for 2017.
On January 21, 2017, during his first press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer falsely claimed that President Donald Trump's inauguration had the largest audience in history, both in person and globally. This statement was made in response to media reports that indicated lower attendance compared to Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. The incident occurred at the White House, and U.S. Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway later defended Spicer's remarks by introducing the term "alternative facts" during a subsequent interview on January 22, 2017. The phrase sparked widespread criticism and was deemed Orwellian, leading to a significant increase in sales of George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four." The current status of the case is that it remains a notable example of political misinformation, with ongoing discussions regarding the implications of such statements on public discourse and media credibility. Key evidence includes ridership data from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which contradicts Spicer's claims about attendance numbers.
Community analysis and theories will be displayed here when available.
The Birth of "Alternative Facts": A Political Controversy
The Genesis of a Phrase
On January 22, 2017, a new term entered the American lexicon, one that would stir debates and fuel controversies across the nation: "alternative facts." This phrase was coined by Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President, during a Meet the Press interview. Conway was defending White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer's inaccurate claim regarding the attendance numbers at President Donald Trump's inauguration. When pressed by interviewer Chuck Todd about Spicer's "provable falsehood," Conway retorted that Spicer was merely providing "alternative facts." Todd quipped back, "Look, alternative facts are not facts. They're falsehoods."
The Media Firestorm
Conway's phrase instantly ignited a firestorm on social media and drew sharp criticism from journalists and media outlets. Notable figures such as Dan Rather and Jill Abramson, as well as the Public Relations Society of America, lambasted the term as Orwellian, akin to concepts like "doublethink" from George Orwell's novel, "Nineteen Eighty-Four." Within days, sales of Orwell's dystopian classic surged 95-fold, catapulting it to the top of Amazon.com's bestseller list.
In an article by Olivia Nuzzi, Conway later attempted to clarify her meaning, suggesting that "alternative facts" referred to "additional facts and alternative information," akin to how different perspectives can yield the same numerical outcomes, like "two plus two is four" or "three plus one is four."
The Controversial Claims
The controversy began a day earlier, on January 21, 2017, when Sean Spicer delivered his first press briefing as White House Press Secretary. Spicer accused the media of deliberately underestimating the crowd size at Trump's inauguration, claiming it was the "largest audience to ever witness an inauguration – period – both in person and around the globe." However, photographic evidence and rapid transit data contradicted Spicer's assertions, showing that the turnout was significantly lower than Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration. Spicer claimed that 420,000 people rode the D.C. Metro on inauguration day 2017, compared to 317,000 in 2013, without providing sources or clarifying time comparisons. In reality, Metro ridership from midnight to 11 AM was 193,000 in 2017 and 317,000 in 2013, with full-day figures of 570,557 in 2017 and 782,000 in 2013.
Spicer also incorrectly stated that white ground coverings, which he claimed made the crowd appear smaller, were used for the first time during Trump's inauguration. In fact, these coverings had been used in 2013 for Obama's second swearing-in. Notably, Spicer did not field questions during this press briefing.
Conway's Defense
In her Meet the Press interview, Conway defended Spicer's assertions by introducing the concept of "alternative facts." Chuck Todd challenged her, emphasizing that "alternative facts are not facts," but falsehoods. Conway countered, arguing that crowd numbers couldn't be precisely determined and accused Todd of attempting to make her appear ridiculous. She later elaborated that "alternative facts" meant "additional facts and alternative information."
Two days after the briefing, Spicer corrected his statements about WMATA ridership, insisting he had relied on provided statistics. He maintained that the inauguration was the most-viewed, including online and television audiences.
Further Missteps and Reactions
Conway's comments on "alternative facts" continued to resonate throughout the week. She referred to "alternative information" and "incomplete information" in subsequent statements. In defending Trump's travel restrictions, Conway mentioned a nonexistent "Bowling Green massacre," which she later clarified was a reference to the 2011 arrest of two Iraqis in Kentucky for aiding insurgents in Iraq. These missteps led critics to assert that Conway had taken "alternative facts" to new extremes.
The phrase "alternative facts" was likened to "truthful hyperbole," a term from Trump's 1987 book, "Trump: The Art of the Deal." Tony Schwartz, the book's ghostwriter, claimed authorship of the phrase, noting Trump's approval of it.
Legal and Cultural Reactions
The term "alternative facts" quickly permeated popular culture. Comedians like Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert crafted segments parodying the concept. CNN launched its "Facts First" campaign in response to the burgeoning era of fake news and alternative facts. The phrase even made its way into speeches by Robert De Niro and Steven Spielberg, with Spielberg emphasizing the fight for objective truth.
On January 24, 2017, the Public Relations Society of America issued a statement condemning the use of "alternative facts," asserting that it reflected poorly on communication professionals.
In a legal context, fifteen law professors filed a disciplinary complaint against Conway with the D.C. Bar's Office of Disciplinary Conduct, citing her pattern of misrepresentation, including the use of "alternative facts."
Global Impact
The impact of "alternative facts" extended beyond U.S. borders. German and Austrian linguists declared the phrase the "un-word" of 2017. The term's cultural relevance was further immortalized in the 2017 satirical short film, "Alternative Math."
Sources
To explore more, visit the original Wikipedia article: Alternative Facts on Wikipedia
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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Trump's Inauguration
Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States.
Spicer's First Press Briefing
Sean Spicer holds his first press briefing, making false claims about inauguration crowd size.
Conway's 'Alternative Facts'
Kellyanne Conway uses the term 'alternative facts' during a Meet the Press interview.
PRSA Statement
The Public Relations Society of America condemns the use of 'alternative facts' by Conway.
Sales of '1984' Surge
Sales of George Orwell's '1984' increase dramatically following Conway's comments.
Legal Complaint Filed
Fifteen law professors file a complaint against Conway for professional misconduct.
Conway Defends Remarks
Conway further defends her use of 'alternative facts' in various interviews.
Un-Word of the Year
German linguists declare 'alternative facts' the un-word of the year for 2017.