Trump’s campaign manager deletes Air Force One photo after being told it’s from 2004
'@realDonaldTrump won the #Daytona500 before the race even started,' says Brad Parscale despite using photo from wrong president's visit
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump’s campaign manager has deleted a tweet featuring a photo of Air Force One at the Daytona 500 motor race on Sunday - after social media users pointed out that the image was taken in 2004 during a different president’s visit.
Brad Parscale posted the photo on Twitter which showed stands packed with people watching the aircraft, and said: “@realDonaldTrump won the #Daytona500 before the race even started.”
But the photo was actually taken during former president George W Bush’s visit to the annual race held by Nascar in 2004 and can be found with its original details on Getty Images.
Photographer Jonathan Ferrey, who captured the moment 16 years ago at Daytona Beach in Florida, told CNN: “I have a lot of talented colleagues photographing the Daytona 500 this year.
“I am unfortunately not there today, but apparently I won the Daytona 500 photography before the race even started.”
Mr Parscale deleted the tweet three hours later after Twitter users pointed out he had used an old photo.
He then tweeted the same caption again with an updated photo from the race on Sunday, which was taken by photographer Mark J Rebilas.
However, the blunder had been immortalised on social media, with hundreds of users criticising Mr Parscale for “lying” and mocking the number of empty seats in the more recent photo.
One user said: “Dude, this is shameful. Crowd size continues to elude you. A dog show gets more crowd.”
Another said: “Brad, you forgot to Photoshop people into the many, many empty seats.”
Mr Trump is the only president other than Mr Bush to have made a visit to the Daytona race. After a flyover in Air Force One, Mr Trump was taken for a lap around the track in the presidential limousine to open the race.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments