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Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said “defending Trump is more important than the United States.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") * Facebook Fact-checks * Facebook posts ![\\"Ranking](\\" Ranking member Rep. Devin Nunes of Calif., questions former White House national security aide Fiona Hill, and David Holmes, a U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, in Washington, on Nov. 21, 2019. (AP) ![\\"Daniel](\\" By Daniel Funke February 25, 2020 # Liberal Facebook pages, blogs fabricate Devin Nunes quote about Trump #### If Your Time is short * Leaked audio from August 2018 shows Nunes talking about the Mueller investigation. * There is no evidence that Nunes ever said \"defending Trump is more important than the United States.\" See the sources for this fact-check A popular Facebook post is putting words in the mouth of Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif. The post, which includes a quote about President Donald Trump alongside an image of Nunes, was shared in a popular liberal Facebook page called Go Left. The post claims to be based on leaked audio from July 2019. \"Defending Trump is more important than the United States,\" the image reads. The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) It has been shared more than 1,400 times on several social media platforms. ![](\\" (Screenshot from Facebook) We reached out to Go Left for its evidence for the post, but we haven’t heard back. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" ![](\\" Jeffrey Barke stated on August 23, 2024 in an Instagram post Food and Drug Administration approval for updated COVID-19 vaccines requires a public health emergency declaration. ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Jeff Cercone • August 27, 2024 As the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, Nunes was one of Trump’s staunchest defenders during the president’s impeachment. But the Facebook post is inaccurate — the leaked audio it cites was recorded in July 2018, not 2019. And Nunes didn’t say anything close to the quote Go Left published. The audio was recorded at a private fundraiser for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., that Nunes attended in July 2018. MSNBC first obtained and aired the clips during the Rachel Maddow Show on Aug. 8, 2018. Nunes’ comments focused on former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of 2016 Russian election interference and the role of the Trump campaign. \"So therein lies, so it’s like your classic Catch-22 situation where we were at a – this puts us in such a tough spot. If (then-Attorney General Jeff) Sessions won’t unrecuse and Mueller won’t clear the president, we’re the only ones. Which is really the danger,\" Nunes said in one of the clips that MSNBC published. \"That’s why I keep, and thank you for saying it by the way, I mean we have to keep all these seats. We have to keep the majority. If we do not keep the majority, all of this goes away.\" The audio shows that Nunes was interested in defending Trump from the Mueller investigation to try and keep the Republican majority in Congress ahead of the midterm elections. But none of the four clips that MSNBC published included Nunes saying anything close to \"defending Trump is more important than the United States.\" That distortion was added later by several liberal blogs and YouTube videos. We reached out to Nunes’ press office for comment, but we haven’t heard back. The Facebook post is inaccurate. We rate it False. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources The Atlantic, \"The Atlantic Politics Daily: Trump\'s Top Defender in Congress,\" Nov. 19, 2019 Facebook post, Feb. 23, 2020 The Intellectualist, \"In Leaked Tape, Nunes Says Protecting Trump More Important Than Defending US,\" Feb. 20, 2019 MSNBC, \"TRMS Exclusive: Devin Nunes speaks candidly at fundraiser,\" Aug. 8, 2018 Political Tribune, \"Secret Audio Resurfaced, Showed Devin Nunes Apparently Saying Protecting Trump More Important Than Protecting US\" YouTube video, Nov. 18, 2019 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Daniel Funke ![](\\" ![](\\" TikTok posts stated on January 30, 2021 in a sound: \"Schools are trying to make a law that teachers can see girls\' private parts to make sure they\'re not trans.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • February 17, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on February 15, 2021 in a text post: Says Joe Biden planned a winter storm as \"warfare, an attack on Texas by altering the jet stream.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • February 16, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Michael van der Veen stated on February 12, 2021 in a speech at the U.S. Senate: After the Capitol insurrection, “one of the first people arrested was a leader of antifa.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • February 12, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on March 31, 2021 in a video: \"mRNA is not a vaccine\" — it\'s \"actually an operating system\" that\'s run by Bill Gates to program humans. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • April 1, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on March 24, 2021 in a post: \"Suez Canal blocked by huge container ship named Evergreen. Evergreen shipping is most likely a cover for human and sex trafficking” by Hillary Clinton. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • March 25, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Jack Posobiec stated on March 23, 2021 in a tweet: “New information coming in that Boulder shooter was a Syrian refugee who arrived via Obama-era asylum programs.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • March 24, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on March 22, 2021 in a text post: The shooting in Boulder, Colo., was a \"false flag like most of the others.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • March 23, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" TikTok posts stated on March 17, 2021 in a video caption: “You will need a WHO Yellow Vaccination Passport if you plan on traveling internationally once borders open.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • March 22, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on March 13, 2021 in a text post: Says Joe Biden is “now saying he inherited ‘a mess’ at the border. Fact: 9,000 illegals all of 2020. So far in 2021 108,000 entered U.S.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Daniel Funke • March 17, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Sherri Tenpenny stated on February 9, 2021 in a Bitchute video: \"Some people are going to die from the vaccine directly. But a large number of people are going to start getting horribly sick and get all kinds of autoimmune diseases.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • March 4, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on February 26, 2021 in an image: Says Jerry Nadler said “God has no authority in the House of Representatives” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Daniel Funke • February 26, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" J. Bart Classen stated on January 18, 2021 in a research article: The COVID-19 vaccine could lead to prion diseases, Alzheimer’s, ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • February 26, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on February 21, 2021 in a post: Facebook users can avoid “problems with your Facebook going against community standards” by changing your settings. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • February 24, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Infowars stated on February 20, 2021 in an article: “Joe Biden’s Dept. of Energy Blocked Texas from Increasing Power Ahead of Killer Storm” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • February 22, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on February 13, 2021 in a text post: Donald Trump\'s second impeachment \"cost $33 million.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Daniel Funke • February 19, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" TikTok posts stated on January 30, 2021 in a sound: \"Schools are trying to make a law that teachers can see girls\' private parts to make sure they\'re not trans.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • February 17, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on February 15, 2021 in a text post: Says Joe Biden planned a winter storm as \"warfare, an attack on Texas by altering the jet stream.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • February 16, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Michael van der Veen stated on February 12, 2021 in a speech at the U.S. Senate: After the Capitol insurrection, “one of the first people arrested was a leader of antifa.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • February 12, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on March 31, 2021 in a video: \"mRNA is not a vaccine\" — it\'s \"actually an operating system\" that\'s run by Bill Gates to program humans. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • April 1, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on March 24, 2021 in a post: \"Suez Canal blocked by huge container ship named Evergreen. Evergreen shipping is most likely a cover for human and sex trafficking” by Hillary Clinton. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • March 25, 2021 ![](\\" ![](\\" Jack Posobiec stated on March 23, 2021 in a tweet: “New information coming in that Boulder shooter was a Syrian refugee who arrived via Obama-era asylum programs.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Daniel Funke • March 24, 2021 ### Liberal Facebook pages, blogs fabricate Devin Nunes quote about Trump * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on September 20, 2024 in an X post: First lady Jill Biden led a Cabinet meeting for President Joe Biden and her signature appears on presidential stationery. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Samantha Putterman • September 21, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" TikTok posts stated on September 19, 2024 in a video: Video claims to show Donald Trump in an interview with Diddy ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu • September 20, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on September 18, 2024 in X posts: “iPhones exploding in Lebanon blowing up random people.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • September 20, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" TikTok posts stated on September 18, 2024 in a TikTok video: “Attorney General Merrick Garland just vetoed charging Ryan Routh with attempted assassination” of Donald Trump. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jeff Cercone • September 20, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 14, 2024 in a Facebook post: \"Taylor Swift unexpectedly lost a $125 million brand contract after a massive advertising campaign” endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Maria Briceño • September 20, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 12, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: “Portugal lanza monedas de 7 euros para honrar al legendario futbolista Cristiano Ronaldo”. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • September 20, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Kamala Harris stated on September 12, 2024 in a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina: Former President Donald Trump “started out with $400 million on a silver platter and then filed for bankruptcy six times.” ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Louis Jacobson • September 20, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on September 15, 2024 in posts: Ryan Routh\'s Instagram bio says he is a \"proud LGBTQ+ member\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Grace Abels • September 20, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 17, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Chiefs\' Coach Andy Reid criticizes Taylor Swift: ‘You’re not a good role model.’” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 20, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 17, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Kansas City Chiefs CEO bans Taylor Swift from attending games, calling her the team’s ‘biggest distraction.’” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 20, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. 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Rep Devin Nunes RCalif said defending Trump is more important than the United States