Does Rep. Harold Ford Have a Portrait of Mao in his Living Room?

No.

By Alec Dent

Jan 28, 2021

During Rep. Harold Ford’s appearance on Bret Baier’s Fox News show recently, viewers noted a portrait of Mao Zedong in the background. Posts started going viral on social media, with posters saying things like Ford, a Democrat from Tennessee, has “a framed portrait of Mao in his living room” and that he “has a Mao painting in his home.” Rush Limbaugh featured a segment about the incident on his show Friday, with his website stating “Mass Murderer Mao Over Harold Ford’s Mantle”

Holy shit https://t.co/sOTL6wxZiO
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 15, 2021

https://twitter.com/ricky_meyer/status/1349864668517568515

The images of Ford’s appearance don’t tell the full story: Ford was not, in fact, at his home during the interview. Baier noted that Ford “is renting a house in a vacation spot for a few weeks,” which Ford echoed in a tweet of his own.

Harold @HaroldFordJr is renting a house in a vacation spot for a few weeks -he doesn’t control the walls. Strong background analysis, but Harold is not a Maoist- he was elected in Tennessee. Thanks for watching! https://t.co/xAUwcSWbQb
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) January 15, 2021

As @BretBaier said, I’m just renting a place – didn’t choose the art – my house has Ali and MLK on the walls – no fan of Communist China or Mao – my public record and words on Fox and elsewhere about China prove that
— Harold Ford, Jr. (@HaroldFordJr) January 15, 2021

Ford later tweeted that he is “virulently opposed to communism&china’s (sic) human rights policies.”

Again, some things I AM: on vacation renting for a few weeks, God fearing, unapologetic capitalist, virulently opposed to communism&china’s human rights policies, a patriot&a proud blue dog Democrat AND now, a few things I’M NOT: a Maoist, good cameraman&an art guy – FACTS MATTER
— Harold Ford, Jr. (@HaroldFordJr) January 16, 2021

While Ford did appear on Fox News with a portrait of Mao in the background, it is inaccurateto claim that Ford has a painting of Mao hanging in his living room.

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