Were Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Friedrich Merz caught with a bag of white powder and a spoon?
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Generated May 11, 2025 at 11:14 a.m. PDT, may be out of date if significantly later.
The image you uploaded is a screenshot from a video, overlaid with text making serious allegations against European political leaders Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Friedrich Merz, following a visit to Kyiv hosted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The text claims they were caught with "a bag of white powder" and a "spoon," implying illicit drug use, and labels Zelenskyy a "known cocaine enthusiast."
✅ Verified Facts Table
| Statement | Status | Clarification & Correction | Confidence (1–5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Friedrich Merz (along with Donald Tusk) traveled to Kyiv. | ✅ Correct | The visit took place around May 9-10, 2025. The social media post is dated May 11, 2025, likely referring to this recent visit (deutschland.de), (Kyiv Independent). | 5 |
| The leaders met on a train. | ✅ Correct | Video footage from news agencies like AFP and AP confirms the meeting took place aboard a train en route to or in Kyiv (AFP), (AP). | 5 |
| The purpose of the visit was to signal continued support for Ukraine and discuss peace initiatives. | ✅ Correct | Reports state the leaders aimed to reiterate support for Ukraine and discuss proposals such as a ceasefire (deutschland.de), (Kyiv Independent). | 5 |
| Allegations of Volodymyr Zelenskyy being a drug user are part of a recurring disinformation campaign. | ✅ Correct | Multiple fact-checking organizations have debunked these claims, identifying them as pro-Kremlin disinformation relying on manipulated media and falsehoods (EUvsDisinfo), (AP News). | 5 |
⚠️ Errors and Corrections Table
| Statement | Issue | Correction | Correction Confidence (1–5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "A bag of white powder on the table. Macron quickly pockets it, Merz hides the spoon." | ❓ Unable to substantiate / Likely False | The items are not clearly identifiable as drugs or paraphernalia in the video still. One Greek news report on the viral claims suggests the "bag" was a handkerchief or tissue (news247.gr). No credible sources confirm the presence or handling of illicit drugs. | 4 |
| "Zelenskyy, known cocaine enthusiast, had just hosted them." | ❌ Incorrect | This is a known and debunked disinformation narrative aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian President. There is no credible evidence to support this claim (EUvsDisinfo), (AP News). | 5 |
| "All three of the 'leaders' look completely cracked out." | 💭 Opinion / Baseless Accusation | This is a subjective and unsubstantiated opinion. The appearance of individuals can be interpreted in many ways and is not evidence of drug use. | 5 |
| "DEVELOPING SCANDAL" | ❌ Incorrect | There is no evidence of a developing scandal related to drug use by these leaders reported by credible news organizations. The "scandal" appears to be manufactured on social media based on misinterpretation or deliberate misrepresentation of the video. | 5 |
| "No explanation given." (regarding the items on the table) | Misleading | While the leaders themselves may not have publicly addressed these specific social media allegations, the context and alternative explanations (e.g., a handkerchief) exist. Lack of an "official" explanation does not validate the misinterpretation itself. | 4 |
📌 Corrections Summary:
- Misidentification of Objects: The claim about a "bag of white powder" and a "spoon" is unsubstantiated and disputed; reports suggest it was a handkerchief (news247.gr).
- False Allegation against Zelenskyy: The assertion that President Zelenskyy is a "known cocaine enthusiast" is false and part of a pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign (EUvsDisinfo), (AP News).
- Unfounded Claims of Drug Intoxication: The statement that the leaders look "completely cracked out" is subjective and lacks any credible backing.
- Non-Existent Scandal: The term "DEVELOPING SCANDAL" is misleading; no credible outlets report such a scandal.
📌 Potential Leads:
| Statement | Plausibility & Notes | Path for Future Investigation |
|---|---|---|
| The object handled by Macron was a handkerchief/tissue. | High Plausibility; reported by news247.gr as an alternative explanation. | Review full video footage from multiple angles to identify the object clearly. |
| The "spoon" is a misinterpretation of another object on the table (e.g., pen, glasses). | High Plausibility; low-resolution stills often lead to misinterpretation. | Frame-by-frame analysis of full video; search for other angles or higher-resolution clips. |
🛑 Assessment of Source Reliability:
| Source | Usefulness Assessment | Notes | Rating (1–5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media Post | ⚠️ Low | Unsubstantiated allegations and known disinformation; useful only for understanding the claim. | 1 |
| news247.gr | ✅ Moderate | Greek news outlet reporting on viral claims and counter-narratives. | 3 |
| deutschland.de | ✅ High | Official German government portal; factual reporting on visit timing and purpose. | 4 |
| AFP – YouTube | ✅ High | Reputable news agency; video footage confirms setting. | 5 |
| AP News – YouTube & Articles | ✅ High | Reputable agency; provided footage and debunked related disinformation. | 5 |
| EUvsDisinfo | ✅ High | EU task force debunking pro-Kremlin disinformation. | 5 |
| Factcheck.ge | ✅ High | Georgian fact-checker; debunked Zelenskyy drug claims. | 4 |
| VOA | ✅ High | US international broadcaster; generally independent but state-funded. | 4* |
| Kyiv Independent | ✅ High | Ukrainian English-language media; reporting on leaders’ visit. | 4 |
*VOA is US government-funded but maintains editorial independence; noted due to funding context.
📗 Revised Summary (Corrected & Accurate):
Around May 9–10, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Labour leader Keir Starmer, and German CDU leader Friedrich Merz, along with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, traveled together by train to Kyiv for discussions with President Zelenskyy (deutschland.de), (Kyiv Independent). The purpose was to reaffirm support for Ukraine and discuss peace initiatives.
A video clip from their train meeting circulated on social media dated May 11, 2025, falsely alleging drug use. The screenshot shows ambiguous objects likely to be a handkerchief and mundane items—not illicit drugs (news247.gr), and the “cocaine enthusiast” claim about Zelenskyy is debunked disinformation (EUvsDisinfo), (AP News).
🏅 What a Fact-Checker Might Say:
The social media post is False. It misrepresents European leaders on a documented diplomatic mission. Drug-related allegations are based on ambiguous visuals and have been debunked by reputable fact-checkers.
💡 Tip Suggestion:
When you see sensational claims from video stills, always find the original footage and consult reputable news reports. Disinformation often relies on out-of-context clips and misidentified objects.