February 16, 2026
An image widely circulated on social media claims to show a meeting between the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Denis Hankins, and Jimmy Cherizier, alias “Barbecue,” the leader of the gang coalition “Viv Ansanm.” In response to this viral image, the U.S. Embassy formally denied the information in a Facebook post on Monday, labeling the image as “fake.”
“This image circulating on social media is FAKE. Ambassador Hankins has never met with Jimmy Cherizier or any other Haitian gang member,” the statement clarified. By rejecting any notion of a connection or discussion with armed violence figures, the embassy reaffirmed its firm stance on security in Haiti.
The embassy’s post went further, underscoring the U.S. position on gang violence. “The United States firmly condemns gang violence that seeks to destabilize the Haitian government and jeopardize the future peace and security of the Haitian people,” the statement added.
