Claim: On Thursday, June 17, Pakistan’s leading news channel Geo news urdu, fronted by senior journalist Azaz Syed, was the first to report that U.S. President Donald Trump would visit Islamabad on September 18, 2025. The breaking story, attributed to unnamed diplomatic sources, was quickly picked up by other major outlets including ARY News, Express News and SAMAA TV. Azaz Syed, a senior investigative journalist affiliated with Geo News also posted the claim on his official Twitter account, stating: “Breaking: POTUS45 to visit Pakistan on September 18th 2025.” As the report went viral across social media platforms, it sparked widespread public and media reaction; well before any official confirmation was obtained. The premature circulation of the news contributed to confusion both domestically and internationally.
Fact-Check: Following a thorough review by our investigation team, the claim was confirmed to be false. The key verified findings are listed below:
1. Geo and ARY News Apology: Geo News urdu and ARY News both withdrew their reports within hours. geo news urdu formally apologised on-air, stating in Urdu: “Geo News aired unverified news regarding the U.S. President’s visit to Pakistan on September 18 and apologizes for broadcasting unverified information.” ARYnewsud also retracted the story after receiving official clarification from the ForeignOfficePk
2. Azaz Syed’s Personal Clarification: Azaz Syed posted a public apology on Twitter, saying: “Today, I feel deeply embarrassed to admit that I misreported the date related to U.S. President Donald Trump – the information I shared was premature and not yet final. I take full responsibility for this oversight and offer my sincerest apologies to all my followers, including my organization, Geonews urdu, which has always trusted me. I remain firmly committed to accuracy, integrity, and transparency in my work, and I truly regret this mistake.”
3. Pakistan Foreign Ministry Denial: A spokesperson for ForeignOffice, Shafqat Ali Khan, immediately rejected the claim, stating: “We have no information about this matter.” He confirmed that no visit by President Trump is being planned.
4. U.S. Embassy in Pakistan Refutes Report: A spokesperson for the usembislamabad was asked about the reports of a potential Trump visit and told Reuters: “We have nothing to announce.” This response makes clear that the Embassy had no confirmation of any planned visit.
5. White House Clarification: A senior White House spokesperson officially confirmed President Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom from September 17 to 19, ruling out the possibility of his being in Pakistan on September 18.
6. Buckingham Palace Announcement: On Monday, July 14, Buckingham Palace officially announced that President Donald Trump had accepted the invitation of His Majesty King Charles III to undertake a State Visit to the United Kingdom from 17 to 19 September 2025. The President Donald Trump and First Lady MELANIA TRUMP will be hosted at Windsor Castle. Further details regarding the visit will be released in due course.
Conclusion: Based on confirmations from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, the U.S. Embassy, the White House and Buckingham Palace, it is verified that President Trump will be in the United Kingdom from September 17–19, eliminating any possibility of a visit to Pakistan on September 18. Even major news outlets can falter in the race to break headlines, but reporting without verification is a serious breach of responsibility. This case underscores the need to confirm facts through credible, official sources before sharing sensitive international developments. In today’s information landscape, responsible journalism is not a choice — it is a duty. Upholding accuracy through informed reporting and careful sharing is essential to prevent the spread of misinformation and protect public trust.
