Trump urged voting in Iowa caucus, didn't blame Biden for alleged lemonade deaths | Fact check
The claim: Trump criticized Biden for deaths allegedly tied to Panera lemonade
A Dec. 15 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) includes several screenshots of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally with captions referencing deaths allegedly tied to a Panera Bread drink.
“Everything is bad under Biden,” Trump’s purported remarks begin. “Even the lemonade is killing people. Did you see that? People drink lemonade and die."
Other captions include, "The lemonade didn’t kill you when I was President," and "When life hands you lemons, Joe Biden kills you with them."
The post received more than 1,400 likes in five days. Another version of the claim was shared more than 16,000 times on X, formerly known as Twitter.
More from the USA TODAY Fact-Check Team:
Guidelines: How we identify, research and rate claims
Newsletter: Sign up for Checking the Facts; truth delivered daily to your inbox
Facebook: Like our page to get our latest debunks throughout the day
Our rating: False
Trump did not make any such remarks during a December rally in Iowa, according to a review of speech transcripts. The claim first appeared on a comedy writer's X account.
Speech criticized opponents, encouraged participation in Iowa caucuses
The captions reference lawsuits that allege two people died after drinking Panera Bread's highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade. The screenshots match images from Trump’s Dec. 13 campaign rally in Coralville, Iowa.
No such remarks are included in speech transcripts from various news outlets. Additionally, there is no indication Trump mentioned the deaths in reputable media coverage of the rally.
Trump criticized President Joe Biden and his Republican opponents in the speech, which also encouraged voter participation in Iowa’s Republican caucuses in January.
Comedy writer Keaton Patti posted the screenshots on X before they appeared on Facebook. Patti has written for Comedy Central and the satirical website McSweeney's, and his account includes other miscaptioned screenshots and images altered for comedic effect.
Fact check: No, Donald Trump has not announced his running mate for the 2024 election
USA TODAY has debunked an array of false claims about supposed Trump remarks, including that he said he was still commander-in-chief during a New Hampshire rally, and that he said, “Anyone being investigated by the FBI is not qualified to be the President of the United States” on several occasions.
USA TODAY reached out to users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources:
Des Moines Register, Dec. 14, Trump attacks 'Bidenomics' and Kim Reynolds in Iowa, declares 'the American dream is dead'
Associated Press, Dec. 13, Trump rails against opponents while urging Iowans to ‘put big numbers up’ in caucuses next month
CNN-News18, Dec. 13, Trump Speech Today LIVE | Former U.S. President Donald Trump Holds A “Commit to Caucus” Event | N18L
KGAN-TV, Dec. 13, Familiar message still generates enthusiasm at Trump’s Coralville rally
New York Times, Dec. 13, Trump and His Allies Descend on Iowa
Right Side Broadcasting, Dec. 13, FULL SPEECH: President Trump rallies voters at Commit to Caucus event in Coralville, Iowa - 12/13/23
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.
USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim Trump blamed Biden for Panera deaths | Fact check
