Collection

No, George Santos Didn't Tweet That MLK Encouraged Him To Run for Congress

A history in rumor.

by Snopes Staff, Jan. 14, 2023


martin luther king jr

Image courtesy of Stephen F. Somerstein/Getty Images


Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929, dedicated his life to achieving equality and justice for all Americans. He advocated the notion that a peaceful refusal to obey unjust laws was the best way to combat racism and bring about social change.

During his memorable but too short lifetime, Dr. King pressed the case of civil rights with the White House, touched millions of Americans with his unforgettable "I Have a Dream" speech, and won the Nobel Peace Prize, on his way to leaving behind an ongoing legacy of hope and inspiration.

Despite the true power of his life's work, the memory of the famed civil rights crusader has also inspired many rumors and junk news pieces over the years. Here's our collection of some of them.

Have more information on this topic? Send us a tip.


By Snopes Staff

Is This Viral List of 'Four Things You Didn't Know About Martin Luther King, Jr.' True?

July 19, 2003

You probably didn't know most of them because they're not true.

Read More


Tie, Accessories, Accessory

Did the FBI Send MLK a Letter Telling Him To Kill Himself?

Jan. 25, 2022

The anonymous letter purported to reveal secrets about Martin Luther King Jr.’s sex life.

Read More


Was the U.S. Government Found Guilty of Assassinating Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Jan. 20, 2014

Conspiracy theorists hold that the United States government was sued and found culpable for the ...

Read More


Did Barack Obama Meet with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.?

March 7, 2017

A photograph showing an adult Barack Obama with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. is chronol ...

Read More


Did Martin Luther King Jr. 'Flip the Bird' at a Photographer?

Did Martin Luther King Jr. 'Flip the Bird' at a Photographer?

May 4, 2017

A photograph appearing to show the civil rights leader eloquently gesturing at a camera is a hoax.

Read More


Martin Luther King, Jr.

Did MLK Say 'Our Lives Begin to End the Day We Become Silent'?

Jan. 16, 2017

An oft-quoted statement attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. appears to have been paraphras ...

Read More


Did Trump Remove a MLK Bust from the Oval Office?

Jan. 21, 2017

A Time magazine reporter erroneously tweeted that a bust of civil rights icon Martin Luther King ...

Read More


Martin Luther King, Jr.

Does This Video Prove Martin Luther King Was a Republican?

Jan. 23, 2019

The civil rights icon was never a vocal advocate of either major political party, both of which ...

Read More


Is This a Picture of Martin Luther King and a Police Dog Used to Intimidate Him?

Jan. 22, 2019

Man's best friend, or police intimidation tactic?

Read More


Do Democrats Want to Add Martin Luther King to Mount Rushmore?

Jan. 15, 2018

The non-thinking person's way to generate faux political outrage is to suggest any addition to A ...

Read More


Zoomed in image of man who resembles young Bernie Sanders during Civil Rights March

Bernie Sanders Marched with MLK at Selma?

Jan. 21, 2016

A photograph doesn't show Bernie Sanders marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 with Martin L ...

Read More


martin luther king jr civil rights

Martin Luther King: 'Do Not Rejoice in the Death of One'

May 4, 2011

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., did not say he 'will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an e ...

Read More


Did MLK Say This About Capitalism?

Jan. 20, 2020

Quote: "Since we know that the system will not change the rules, we're going to have to change t ...

Read More


Meek Mill rapper rap artist

Is Rapper Meek Mill the Grandson of Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Aug. 6, 2015

Rumors that the musician is directly related to the civil rights icon come from a site that only ...

Read More


Was Bernice King's Tweet on MLK Day Flagged as Misinfo by Instagram?

Jan. 21, 2021

King tweeted about how her father “was one of the most hated men in America.”

Read More


Did Melania Trump Copy Michelle Obama's MLK Day Message?

Jan. 18, 2018

Rumors holding that Melania Trump plagiarized her Martin Luther King Day tweet from former First ...

Read More


Biloxi Officials Adopt MLK Holiday After Criticism Over 'Great Americans Day'

Jan. 16, 2017

The Biloxi city council voted unanimously to begin using the official name for the January feder ...

Read More


Was MLK Smothered in His Hospital Bed?

July 21, 2020

Questions and speculation may always surround the assassination of Dr. King, but this is not a c ...

Read More


Room, Indoors, Furniture

Is This Samuel L. Jackson with MLK at a Pool Hall?

Jan. 26, 2022

This is a genuine photo of Martin Luther King Jr., but the man wearing shades in the background ...

Read More


Rumors circulated in April 2021 that U.S. President Joe Biden once said "Dr. King's assassination did not have the worldwide impact that George Floyd's death did."

Did Biden Say George Floyd's Death Had Greater 'Worldwide Impact' Than MLK's?

April 7, 2021

Remarks attributed to U.S. President Joe Biden saw a resurgence in social media sharing in April ...

Read More


When Martin Luther King encouraged me to run for Congress I didn't think much of it. But over time I've realized he was right. And now that I've been elected, I refuse to spit on his grave and resign.

No, George Santos Didn't Tweet That MLK Encouraged Him To Run for Congress

Jan. 14, 2023

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, 20 years before Rep. George Santos was born.

Read More



Source code