Edited image shows British MP Penny Mordaunt holding pro-WEF sign

Context

An edited image of Penny Mordaunt is circulating on social media, showing the British MP holding a sign in support of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The sign reads, "Andrew Bridgen Is Correct. Excess deaths are real. The Jab Is causing them. The W.H.O. are Dictators. I work for Klaus Schwab. I am a traitor to the U.K. I love the W.E.F." Such posts can be found here and here.

Screenshots of the Penny Mordaunt image circulating online. (Source: Facebook/X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the image is edited. The original photograph shows Penny Mordaunt holding a sign with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls, demanding the release of Israeli female hostages allegedly held by Hamas.

Here are the facts

A reverse image search led us to Mordaunt's official Facebook page, where we found the original image posted on March 8, 2024, captioned, "Today marks 5 months since Israeli women and girls were taken hostage by Hamas. 19 women and girls remain in Gaza. For #IWD24, and every other day, I'm saying #BringBackOurGirls." The background wall pattern, the frames on the wall, and Mordaunt's attire match the viral image, but the sign reads "#BringBackOurGirls." She posted the same image on her X (formerly Twitter) account. Social media users have digitally edited this image to add different text to it.

Comparison of the viral image and Penny Mordaunt's original image. (Source: Facebook/Penny Mordaunt MP/Annotated by Logically Facts)

According to the parliamentary group Conservative Friends of Israel, Mordaunt posted the image as part of the #BringBackOurGirls, sending her support to the 19 Israeli women taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

According to the Washington Post, Agam Goldstein-Almog, one of the hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, was released by Hamas in November 2023. She told the news outlet that more than 130 Israelis are held captive in Gaza, including 19 women.

The verdict

The original image shows Penny Mordaunt holding a piece of paper that reads "#BringBackOurGirls," not a sign supporting WEF. The viral image was digitally altered. Therefore, we have marked this claim as fake.