Old video of Trump signing a tractor linked to ongoing farmer protests in Europe

By: Ishita Goel
February 16 2024

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Social media posts claim the video shows Trump signing a tractor in support of the ongoing farmer's protests in Europe. (Source: Facebook/X/Modified by Logically Facts)

What is the claim?

A video of former U.S. President Donald Trump signing a tractor and saying, "You think Biden can do that? I don't think so," is going viral on social media. The claim shared with the clip states that Trump has expressed his support for the farmers currently protesting across Europe.

X and Facebook users shared the clip with captions that read, "Whilst European farmers are forced to rise as governments crush their businesses and livelihoods. Donald Trump is visiting farms and signing tractors." Archived versions of such posts can be accessed here, here, and here.

Screenshots of the viral posts on social media. (Source: X/Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

What are the facts?

A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video revealed that it dates back to October 2023. 

The Independent posted an extended video of Trump signing the tractor on their YouTube channel on October 2, 2023, and wrote, "Donald Trump trolled Joe Biden while he was signing a combine truck during his election campaign in Iowa." 

Similarly, Forbes reported on it and shared a video from a different angle showing Trump signing the tractor with a Sharpie in 2023. Forbes wrote that on October 2, Trump visited a farm in Leighton, Iowa, spoke to farmers, and signed a John Deere combine. At the 3:03 mark, we can see him signing the tractor, following which he says, "You think Biden can do that?"

The clip can be found on the Independent and Forbes. (Source: Screenshots/Independent/Forbes)

Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Daniel Scavino Jr. posted the video of Trump on his Instagram on October 2 and wrote, "Trump stops by a Family Farm in Iowa — prior to departing they ask him to sign their @JohnDeere Combine…"

A daily newspaper in Iowa, The Des Moines Register, also published an article on the incident on October 2, 2023. According to the report, Trump, who is campaigning as a candidate for the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, held a series of rallies in eastern Iowa in October.

After a speech in Ottumwa, Iowa, in which he advertised his relationships with the agriculture sector, he visited a farm, where he greeted the farmers and signed the John Deere combine. "We love the farmers, and we appreciate the farmers," he reportedly said, as he showed his support.

The above sources show that the viral video is of Trump signing a tractor in Iowa, United States, during his election campaign, and confirms that it predates the ongoing farmer protests in Europe.

Farmers protest in Europe

Farmers in several European countries started protesting against the green policies brought in by their various governments in late November 2023. The protests saw a surge in January 2024. While the reasons vary, the farmers have been protesting over EU environmental rules, which have led to increasing raw material prices, high debts, cheap food imports, and lower consumer prices. Reuters reported that agriculture is one of the sectors worst affected by climate change. While the farmers are already suffering from increasing heat, drought, and flooding, some green policies are worsening the conditions, reports said.

The verdict

An old video of Trump from October 2023, signing a tractor at a farm in Iowa during his election campaign, has been shared with misleading context. While the video does capture an incident where Trump expressed his support for farmers, it is unrelated to the current farmer protests in Europe.