Video doesn't show security wall being put up at Kamala Harris' residence

The claim

A viral post on X claims to show workers building a security wall around Vice President Kamala Harris's residence in Washington, D.C. The post has already reached 3.5 million views and has been shared 18,000 times.

"Kamala Harris finally built a wall – around her own residence in D.C.," wrote the user EndWokeness, whose false posts we have debunked in the past.

However, the video does not show workers building a security wall at Harris' residence. The video has been taken out of context, and the claim is false.

In fact

Using reverse image search on keyframes of the video, we found that this footage is part of a longer video released by AP on November 4. The video shows security fences being erected around Washington, D.C., in preparation for possible unrest ahead of the U.S. elections. Government buildings, including the U.S. Capitol and the Treasury Department, as well as local businesses, have erected fences and boarded up windows as a precaution.

By closely examining the buildings and surrounding areas, we identified three separate locations in D.C., none near Harris's residence. Since the time of Vice President Walter Mondale in the 1970s, vice presidents have lived with their families on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory.

The first location shown in the post shows fencing being installed at the intersection of 17th St. NW and E St. NW, southwest of the White House. We identified the location by recognizing the First Division Monument, near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

The location of the First Division Monument on Google Maps. (Source: Google Maps)
Screenshot of the viral video showing the First Division Monument. (Source: X/Screenshot/Associated Press/Annotated by Logically Facts)

The second location was identified by the red building in the background, which is located near the White House.

The location of the red building seen in the viral video on Google Maps. (Source: Google Maps)Screenshot of the viral video showing the red building near the White House. (Source: X/Screenshot/Associated Press/Annotated by Logically Facts)

The third location was recognized by the security posts typically found at the entrances to government buildings and official residences. This spot is at the intersection of 15th St. NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, southwest of the Ellipse.

The intersection of 15th St. NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, southwest of the Ellipse on Google Maps. (Source: Google Maps)The same location as seen in the viral video. (Source: X/Screenshot/Associated Press/Annotated by Logically Facts)

The three locations where the fences were installed are near the White House and at least 2.7 miles from Harris' current residence.

Google Maps image showing the distance between the location of the fences and the Harris residence. (Source: Google Maps/Screenshot)

The verdict

All three locations in the video are in Washington, D.C., and show security fences being installed before Election Day. None of them are near Harris' residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory. Therefore, the claim that the video shows a security wall being installed at her residence is false.

Follow Logically Facts' coverage and fact-checking of the U.S. Election 2024 here.