USA Today ‘Fact Checker’ Regrets, Corrects False Claim That Biden Didn’t Check His Watch During Military ‘Ceremony’

USA Today fact checker Daniel Funke is in hot water after he falsely claimed that President Joe Biden didn’t check his watch multiple times during the Dover Air Force base dignified transfer of remains.

On Sept. 1, Funke proudly shared a “New fact check” which he said that “A viral photo makes it look like President Biden checked his watch during a ceremony honoring U.S. service members killed in Kabul. But that’s misleading.”

As many of you already know, this story has been corrected. Biden checked his watch multiple times during the ceremony. I regret the error. https://t.co/F6bjQFYVbC

— Daniel Funke (@dpfunke) September 3, 2021

Of course, Biden did check his watch, but also, the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations, responsible for the return of remains from military theaters overseas, specifies that the transfer is not a “ceremony” but rather “a solemn movement of the transfer case by a carry team composed of military personnel from the fallen member’s respective service.”

In a subsequent tweet, Funke brought up former President Donald Trump and stated, “The way Biden honored the 11 caskets presented at Dover Air Force Base on Sunday was similar to how Trump paid respects to fallen service members during his presidency.”

“Biden checked his watch, but he did so after the ceremony had ended,” Funke then insisted and shared a video to also supposedly prove it.

Biden checked his watch, but he did so after the ceremony had ended.

Watch the video for yourself: https://t.co/eYFRAtHFHN

— Daniel Funke (@dpfunke) September 1, 2021

This morning though, Funke backpedaled and tweeted, “As many of you already know, this story has been corrected. Biden checked his watch multiple times during the ceremony. I regret the error.”

Funke explained, “Journalists and fact-checkers are human (yes, even me!) We make mistakes. When we do, we correct them and try to make it right.”

“It’s easy to dunk on journalists when we get things wrong. I get it – to many, we’re just another name on a screen. But behind that screen is a person trying to do their best,” Funke added, trying to explain away the erroneous claim.

It’s easy to dunk on journalists when we get things wrong. I get it – to many, we’re just another name on a screen. But behind that screen is a person trying to do their best.

— Daniel Funke (@dpfunke) September 3, 2021

Funke did not allow people to comment below his tweets but many quote tweeted it and laid into him, as Fox News reported:

“What you did wasn’t a ‘mistake.’ There were videos of him looking at his watch during the ceremony circulating since Sunday… But you intentionally ignored them and claimed there was no evidence at all,” NewsBusters news analyst Nicholas Fondacaro reacted. 

“With all due respect, Mr. Funke, your ‘fact check’ carried a direct implication that grieving, gold star families had LIED with their first-hand testimony of the events. Keep your ‘we regret the error’ and apologize, unequivocally, directly TO THEM,” radio host Larry O’Connor told the reporter.

“I’d have more sympathy if the ‘fact checking industry’ hadn’t viewed the Afghanistan crisis as a time to protect Biden instead of fact-checking the admin’s lies and obfuscation. We have unknown numbers of Americans stranded and they’re focused on conservative social posts,” GOP strategist Matt Whitlock tweeted.

“Daniel figured out who the true victim is in the saga of the ISIS-K suicide bombing of U.S. service members,” Washington Examiner reporter Jerry Dunleavy quipped.

“@dpfunke – appreciate we all make mistakes, but this is more: 1. You strived to minimize watch-checking which goldstar families complained of 2. Irrelevant Trump mention clouds context 3. ‘Missing context’ correction still tries to minimize that Biden checked watch multiple times,” New York Post columnist Miranda Devine wrote. 

“You didn’t get something wrong. You purposefully and willfully fact checked Gold Star families instead of the President. You did exactly what you think you’re paid to do, which is protect Jos Biden and his party,” Spectator contributor Stephen Miller tweeted.