Fact check: No, Chuck Norris wasn't at the riot at the U.S. Capitol
The claim: Chuck Norris was at the riot at the U.S. Capitol
On Jan. 6, supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress met to count the ballots of the Electoral College. The hourslong attack forced lawmakers into secure locations on Capitol Hill and left five people dead.
In the wake of the siege, some users on Facebook and Twitter have claimed that martial artist and actor Chuck Norris, 80, was at the Capitol riot.
Their posts include a photo of a man who resembles Norris, posing for a selfie with another man in a hat that reads "Trump 2020."
Wait, so are we just not going to mention the fact that Chuck Norris was at the MAGA insurrection? pic.twitter.com/aIukJpoCmF
— DevinNunesTHEDragQueen (@NunesDrag) January 12, 2021
The users behind the posts have not responded to requests from USA TODAY for comment.
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Representative for Norris confirms that he was not at the riot
Chuck Norris was not at the riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Erik Kritzer, his manager, told USA TODAY in an email on Jan. 12 that the man in the photograph is not Norris.
"This is not Chuck Norris and is a wanna be look alike although Chuck is much more handsome," Kritzer wrote. "Chuck remains on his range in Texas where he has been with his family."
In the past, Norris has expressed support for Trump – including in July 2016, in an opinion for World Net Daily. He encouraged all Republicans to rally behind Trump.
"I truly believe that the people who have a negative view of Trump will be pleasantly surprised when he becomes the leader of our country," Norris wrote. "I also believe he will make positive changes that will benefit the people who need it most."
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Our rating: False
Based on our research, the claim that Chuck Norris was at the riot at the U.S. Capitol is FALSE. His manager told USA TODAY that the man in the photo is not Norris and confirmed that Norris has been on his range in Texas.
Our fact-check sources:
USA TODAY, Jan. 12, "'Chuck is much more handsome': Chuck Norris addresses claims he attended the Capitol riots"
World Net Daily, July 24, 2016, "The people have spoken
Contributing: Rasha Ali
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Chuck Norris wasn't at the riot at the U.S. Capitol