How Misleading Videos Shape Political Perceptions of Biden and Trump

President Joe Biden's recent actions during the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France, have sparked controversy and misinformation on social media. A shortened video clip of Biden sitting down was shared widely, falsely claiming that he was reaching for a nonexistent chair. This is just one example of misleading videos that have been circulating, fueling a narrative that Biden is mentally and physically unfit for office. These videos, which have gained millions of views and been picked up by right-leaning outlets, highlight how social media has become a powerful tool in shaping public opinion.Experts predict that both Republicans and Democrats will continue to use out-of-context moments to label each other's presidential candidates as weak or senile, especially considering their ages of 81 and 78. Misleading videos have also been circulated about former President Donald Trump. Erik Nisbet, a professor at Northwestern University, explains that any misinformation that reinforces dominant narratives can be very effective, regardless of its accuracy.One example of a misleading video is from the G7 summit in Italy, where a clip of Biden watching a skydiving demonstration was cropped to make it appear as though he wandered off for no reason. However, a wider view of the video shows that he was actually greeting paratroopers who had just landed. Another instance occurred at a Los Angeles fundraiser, where a pause by Biden as he left the stage amid cheers was used to claim that the president froze. In reality, Biden's campaign stated that he was simply stopping to take in the applause.These clips have been particularly effective at activating concerns about Biden's competency due to his age and visible difficulty in movement. However, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden's physician, has stated that the president is fit for duty and that his stiff gait is due to arthritic changes in his spine. O'Connor also clarified that Biden has shown no signs of stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, or other similar conditions.In response to these misleading videos, Biden's campaign has criticized them as tactics from those who are afraid of losing to him. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre referred to the videos as "cheap fakes," highlighting that they are edited using inexpensive video editing software rather than artificial intelligence. Trump's campaign, on the other hand, has embraced these clips and even circulated a meme defining a "cheap fake" as any unedited video of Biden's cognitive decline that the Biden administration does not want the public to see.Experts warn that these attacks can be iterative, with social media influencers and campaigns piling on one another. The attention economy within conservative media perpetuates these cycles of circulation and misinformation. For example, the Republican National Committee posted a cropped version of the video of Biden at the G7 summit, questioning what he was doing. This post was then shared by right-leaning media outlets and picked up by publications abroad.Joshua Tucker, a politics professor at New York University, suggests that Republicans will likely aggressively focus on concerns about Biden's age, but they should expect Democrats to strike back at Trump, who is only a few years younger. Both candidates will face pressure to show their health and fitness during the upcoming debate.While most voters are unlikely to switch candidates based on misleading videos, experts believe that such misinformation can further entrench people in their beliefs or dampen their enthusiasm to participate in the political process. The upcoming election will be about mobilizing voters rather than persuading them, making it crucial for both parties to energize their respective bases.In conclusion, misleading videos have become a powerful tool in shaping public opinion about presidential candidates. President Joe Biden has been targeted due to his age and visible difficulty in movement. However, experts caution that these videos should be viewed with skepticism and that cognitive aging is normal. The upcoming debate between Biden and Trump will put their health and fitness in the spotlight, but ultimately, the election will be about mobilizing voters rather than changing their minds.