Fact Check

Did a Viral Video Show Heavy 'Military Activity' in the U.S. in June 2023?

We learned some tanks were returning to base after an exercise.

Published Jun 19, 2023

 (@Sprinter99880/Twitter)
Image Via @Sprinter99880/Twitter
Claim:
On June 18, 2023, a video that spread on Twitter showed "incomprehensible military activity" in the U.S.

On June 18, 2023, claims began to spread on Twitter that a video showed "incomprehensible military activity"  in the U.S.

"In the United States, incomprehensible military activity …," a Twitter account posted on June 18, 2023. Attached to the post was a video claiming to show numerous tanks and other military equipment on a railroad track.

We found other, unrelated posts that spread claims about the video on Twitter. At the time of this writing, we found no such claims on any other social platform.

The video did not show U.S. military equipment, however, but rather Canadian Armed Forces vehicles being sent back to their base. We found the original video used in the Twitter posts indicating it was shot in Canada. We also found it posted on TikTok on June 13, 2023, captioned, "100s of Tanks Show Up in Montreal Quebec!"

 

@freedom.wayne

100s of Tanks Show Up in Montreal Quebec!

♬ John Wick - Ganger Baster

When we reached out to the Canadian Department of National Defence to confirm the equipment was Canadian, a spokesperson told us:

"These are Canadian Armed Forces vehicles, returning from a large Canadian military exercise called MAPLE RESOLVE, in Wainwright, Alberta. This is a standard, annual military exercise. The vehicles are travelling by train, returning to Canadian Forces Base in Valcartier, QC."

As such, we rate the claim that the video showed heavy military equipment in the U.S. as "Miscaptioned."

Sources

"Freedom Wayne on TikTok." TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@freedom.wayne/video/7243853967648689414?q=freedom_wayne&t=1687181009178. Accessed 19 June 2023.

Izz Scott LaMagdeleine is a fact-checker for Snopes.

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