Landing back in France after her ill-fated attempt to travel to Gaza in a flotilla was foiled by Israeli authorities and she was sent packing back to Europe, climate activist Greta Thunberg appeared to pretend to be handcuffed as soon as she saw media waiting for her arrival.
Thunberg, 22, was being escorted by police with her arms at her sides, but immediately put her arms and hands behind her back, seemingly to make it seem as though her hands were restrained.
What a mythomaniac! Greta Thunberg lands in France and walks around with her arms alongside her body. As soon as she sees reporters she tightens her hands behind her back to make it look like she is handcuffed.🤡🤣🤡🤣 pic.twitter.com/mX17fFk6cr
— Sophie Robert🎗️🧡 (@MoulineJeanne) June 10, 2025
Thunberg’s actions were reminiscent of another prominent leftist, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who in July 2022 took part in a pro-abortion rally at the Supreme Court and looked as if she was pretending to be handcuffed as she was escorted away by police. “The Bronx and Queens Democratic lawmaker was gently escorted away by a Capitol Police officer — along with fellow city Rep. Carolyn Maloney — after blocking traffic outside the court building,” the New York Post reported. “AOC kept up the charade of being restrained for a few steps before raising her fist to supporters watching from the sidewalk. She then crossed her wrists behind her back again in the faux handcuffed position.”’
AOC fakes being handcuffed after arrest at abortion rights protest https://t.co/cs7GyF4RS1 pic.twitter.com/XBP0Ahmib7
— New York Post (@nypost) July 19, 2022
In January 2023, Thunberg was accused of staging her detention at a coal mine protest. “During the purported photo-up, video shows Thunberg smiling and laughing with who appears to be another protester,” Fox News noted. “One officer, clad in riot gear and a helmet, has Thunberg by the arm, while another stands next to her with his hands clasped in front of him. A third officer laughs along with them.“
“Thunberg falls quiet and serious as a photographer snaps pictures of her and the officers standing still. In the background, a large line of riot officers is seen standing in a line some distance away,” Fox News continued. “Several photographers swarm around Thunberg as two officers then lead her toward a parking lot.”
The fake arrest of #GretaThunberg
All set up for the cameras. pic.twitter.com/IViYGTXnG9
— TVisCOOL! 📺 www.tviscool.com (@TVisCOOLUK) January 17, 2023
A spokesman for the Aachen police protested that the detention was genuine, telling German news outlet BILD: “There was no staging. The police officers were definitely not posing. They were working on a mission. And as part of that, they had to wait.”
