Viral Clip of Trump Promising to Free Imran Khan After US Election Win Is Fake
On November 5, a video started circulating among TikTok users claiming that Donald Trump would try his best to release Imran Khan from jail if he wins the upcoming US elections. This clip was presented as a current statement from Trump, yet it’s dubbed over a speech from 2017 when Trump was running as a Republican Party candidate in the US presidential elections. The clip quickly went viral, particularly among PTI supporters who shared it enthusiastically, hoping for Khan’s release from Adiala Jail.
This video misleads viewers by suggesting that Trump has specifically pledged support for Khan, who is currently imprisoned over Toshakhana cases. In reality, Khan’s sentences have been suspended, though he faces new charges in a third Toshakhana case, cypher, and iddat cases. However, there’s no evidence that Trump has made such a promise. November 5 TikTok users eager to see Khan freed should note that this viral clip is originally from 2017 and was altered to create a false narrative about Trump’s intentions if he becomes the 47th president of the US.
A clip of Trump speaking directly to “Pakistani American friends” has gone viral, where he is heard saying he’ll try his best to get Imran Khan out of jail if he wins the election. In this video, Trump says, “Hello, Pakistani American friends! I promise, if I win, I’ll try my best to free Imran Khan from jail as soon as possible” and even adds, “Imran Khan Zindabad.” This clip has garnered 2.4 million views and has been reshared 19,300 times, creating a powerful narrative among Khan’s supporters hoping for a favourable outcome.
However, a fact-check initiated to verify the claim raised doubts. Experts investigating noticed discrepancies in Trump’s audio and lip movements, suggesting that the video may have been dubbed. The clip’s virality during the ongoing US election season sparked speculation that a potential Trump presidency might tip the scales for the incarcerated former prime minister. Despite clear signs of manipulation, this has made the video a prevalent narrative among Khan’s supporters on YouTube and TikTok.
To investigate the origins of this circulated video, a Google reverse image search was conducted to trace the original clip. The search yielded results from May 12, 2017, linking back to NBC News’s YouTube channel, where the video is titled, “President Donald Trump on firing James Comey | Extended Exclusive Interview.” The YouTube video description provides context, showing Trump justifying his decision to fire then-FBI Director James Comey. No mention of Imran Khan appears in this interview, confirming the clip has been dubbed to mislead viewers.
Further review found that a reverse image search brought up other dubbed versions of the clip, some dating back to March 2024. Newschecker, an Indian fact-checking outlet, previously fact-checked this viral clip, concluding that the claim of Donald Trump reassuring Pakistani Americans of Khan’s release is false. In reality, Trump’s 2017 interview has nothing to do with Khan or Pakistani American ties but focuses on his decision to fire Comey. This falsified video has resurfaced, spreading incorrect information as the US election season heats up.
