Video of German diplomat commenting on JD Vance remarks is altered

USA Today

19-02-2025

The claim: Video shows a German diplomat breaking down in reaction to JD Vance's remarks
A Feb. 17 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows a man referencing remarks made by Vice President JD Vance in front of a crowd before appearing to choke up and walk off the stage to hug an audience member.
"BREAKING: Watch as Christoph Heusgen, German diplomat and chairman of the Munich Security Conference, breaks down in frustration while reacting to J.D. Vance's absurd pro-Russian speech at the conference," the post's caption reads.
Other versions of the claim were shared on Facebook, Threads and X.
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Our rating: Manipulated media
The video splices together the beginning and end of the former conference chairman's speech. He said the display of emotion was related to his retirement, not Vance's remarks.
Munich chairman didn't shed tears over Vance
Vance criticized European leaders at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 14, saying their biggest security threat comes "from within" rather than from Russia or China, according to CNN.
Former Conference Chairman Christoph Heusgen addressed Vance's remarks during his closing statements on Feb. 16 but didn't break down as the Facebook post suggests.
The video splices the beginning and end of Heusgen's speech. The original footage published on the conference's website shows him beginning his remarks by addressing Vance's statements.
"After the speech of Vice President Vance on Friday, we have to fear that our common value base is not that common anymore," Heusgen said. "I'm grateful to all those European politicians that spoke out and reaffirmed the values and principles that they are defending."
He then spoke about several other issues, such as peace promotion, refugee crises and climate change.
About four minutes after addressing Vance's remarks, the chairman concluded his speech by saying, "Let me conclude – and this becomes difficult." He then appeared to choke up and headed off the stage to hug several audience members.
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Heusgen debunked the claim in the Facebook post in a Feb. 17 X post, explaining that his show of emotion was related to his retirement as chairman, not Vance's statements.
"I was truly touched by the warm farewell I received from the entire MSC team and so many friends after my last MSC as chairman," the post reads. "It was a very emotional moment on stage at the end of my term. A video is circulating on the internet that takes this scene of my departure out of context. Unfortunately, this once again shows how the mechanisms of disinformation work."
The conference shared a similar X post the same day, saying the viral video is "edited together" and shows Heusgen saying goodbye to his team members during his farewell speech as chairman.
Heusgen will be replaced as chairman by Norway's Minister of Finance Jens Stoltenberg, according to a Feb. 7 conference press release.
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Lead Stories also debunked the claim.
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