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  • Snopes Digest #117: Resolute Desk replica maker, Trump-Epstein rumors — and more

Snopes Digest #117: Resolute Desk replica maker, Trump-Epstein rumors — and more

Here's what's happening inside the Snopes newsroom

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Megan Loe & Izz LaMagdeleine
December 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025・Issue #117

1. Behind the Snopes: The French cabinetmaker who created replica Resolute Desk

Let's talk about what's going on with Snopes: the newsroom, the products, the people, and everything and anything that makes Snopes, Snopes. This month, reporter Rae Deng has a story about the French cabinetmaker who made the replica Resolute Desk at the heart of a fact check we published last month.

Last month, Snopes published a story debunking a rumor that President Donald Trump had moved the historic Resolute Desk from the Oval Office to Mar-a-Lago. After the story was published, reporter Rae Deng received a curious email: A French cabinetmaker named Rémi Le Forestier was claiming credit for the replica in the photo spreading online.

Le Forestier produced numerous images of the desk, as well as a thank you letter apparently signed by Trump. (He also, inexplicably, included a video of an unrelated wooden Mercedes he had recently built.) According to Le Forestier, the replica wasn’t even a commission from the president. He sent it unprompted across the sea via FedEx with the financial support of billionaire businessman Zaya Younan.

Deng recruited the help of Snopes reporter Anna Rascouët Paz, a fluent French speaker, to make sure nothing was getting lost in translation. It turned out Le Forestier had even more stories to tell: He told Snopes he once made a replica of the throne of military leader Jean-Bédel Bokassa — and the Wagner Group, a Russian-funded military company, spread the rumor in Africa that his was the original stolen by France.

"Many Central Africans remain convinced that I had the original throne," he said in a WhatsApp message.

For more on our conversation with Le Forestier and the story behind the two Resolute Desks, see our fact-check here.

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2. Fact-Checking Highlight: Trump-Epstein relationship rumors

From reporter Joey Esposito:

The alleged relationship between President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein is once again a hot topic thanks to a massive public release of documents last month. Snopes has covered the Epstein controversy for years, but the deluge of new emails led to all-new claims to investigate on top of the resurgence of old rumors.

We’ve assembled a substantial collection of rumors we've investigated about Trump and Epstein's relationship. Here are five of the most popular Epstein-related claims we've fact-checked:

3. Overheard at Snopes

We look into a lot of weird stuff at Snopes. We imagine it's very interesting to be a fly on the wall, so we wanted to give you a look at some of the things we have to say when fact-checking.

Overheard: I’m wrapping up hamster wheel then I’ll start on heavy drinking today.

The story, not as a coping mechanism.

— Intern Will Kramer

4. Meet the Snopes Staffer: Megan Loe

Meet the journalists behind Snopes: In this Q&A, hybrid reporter and web producer Megan Loe shares insights into her work and fact-checking, along with a few fun facts.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you at Snopes and which part do you enjoy the most?

A: Because I’m in a hybrid role, I split my time between fact-checking and overseeing our audience-engagement efforts.

My mornings are all about spotting fresh topics that are generating buzz, digging into research and writing stories. In the afternoons, I switch gears to web production, which entails creating posts for social media, curating newsletters, and collaborating with my team members to craft compelling images and headlines for our stories.

It’s hard to pick a favorite part of the job because I love all of it, but I especially enjoy finding new ways to engage with our readers across different platforms.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge that you currently see for fact-checkers?

A: For me, it’s the rise of increasingly powerful artificial intelligence (AI) models. Google’s AI model, for example, is now able to generate images that look so realistic it’s often hard to tell them apart from one you’d take on your phone. As fact-checkers, we’ll need to keep adding new tools to our toolbox and working closely with digital forensics experts to help people spot what’s real and what’s not. 

Q: What’s one of the most surprising or memorable claims you’ve fact-checked?

A: How could I forget the rumor about “mutant deer” with “flesh bubbles on their skin”? The fears were definitely overblown and I’m glad I was (hopefully) able to put some readers’ minds at ease.

Q: What book, movie or show are you loving right now? 

A: I’m a huge reader, so I’ll always have a book recommendation for anyone! Right now, my go-to is “Broken Country” by Clare Leslie Hall. It’s part mystery/part historical fiction and explores complicated relationship dynamics. I truly think it has something everyone will enjoy.

Q: Do you have a pet? If so, tell us about them!

A: I do! My sweet rescue Pitbull Leroy (exact age unknown) has been in my life for the last six years. He has the goofiest personality and is the most vocal dog I’ve ever met. Excellent remote work colleague, too.

Mental Health Break

Snopes investigates some grim and depressing claims, so we know how important it is to your mental health to see something silly, funny, or just plain heartwarming. Here are some links that made us smile.

5. Snopes-worthy Media

What Snopes is paying attention to across the web.

— Nicholas Hune-Brown, The Local

— Michelle Zenarosa, Poynter

— Valérie Bélair-Gagnon, Nieman Lab

Thanks for reading this edition of the Snopes Digest. We send new issues of the newsletter every month, so please add this email address to your white list and keep an eye out for the next issue.

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