President Donald Trump, who tested positive for the virus last week and has been hospitalized over the weekend with a fever and dipping oxygen levels, still wants his supporters to believe he's spending his time working hard for the nation.
Along those lines, Trump's team released several pictures taken by the White House photographer of what appears to be the President (unmasked), at several desks in Walter Reed hospital, taking care of some Presidential business.
Nothing can stop him from working for the American people. RELENTLESS! 🇺🇸 https://t.co/2ZSat782qe— Ivanka Trump (@Ivanka Trump) 1601781036.0
As in almost all communications from the Trump administration, there seemed to be some factual inconsistencies with the photos though. Journalist Jon Ostrower quickly pointed out the pictures' embedded metadata showed they were taken only ten minutes apart, not hours or days apart as the propaganda from the White House implied.
This made it incredibly likely both photos were staged.
The photos released by the WH tonight of the president working at Walter Reed were taken 10 minutes apart at 5:25:5… https://t.co/em1Q1lJf5V— Jon Ostrower (@Jon Ostrower) 1601787154.0
Even more damning was a simple zoom in on the papers President Trump appeared to be working on and signing.
A closer look revealed President Trump's "business" was simply signing his name in the center of a blank sheet of paper.
ZOOM: @realDonaldTrump appears to be signing his name to a blank sheet of paper in this photo. https://t.co/xlNX24CXn4— Andrew Feinberg (@Andrew Feinberg) 1601780317.0
Not a huge surprise that these photos are staged - and I’m amused by those pointing out that if you zoom in he’s ju… https://t.co/qPdy0eoC5Z— Alex von Tunzelmann (@Alex von Tunzelmann) 1601798210.0
Here's what appears to be the same blank sheet of paper in a screen grab from the video of @realDonaldTrump releas… https://t.co/TgbLyl8kTq— Andrew Feinberg (@Andrew Feinberg) 1601782370.0
People on Twitter were no longer surprised by the Trump administration's blatant dishonesty.
@AndrewFeinberg @realDonaldTrump That's the only kind of "work" he knows how to do. And in his mind, as long as he… https://t.co/TK078ydtQ9— Khashoggi’s Ghost (@Khashoggi’s Ghost) 1601787644.0
@AndrewFeinberg @atrupar @realDonaldTrump It amazes me of how far this administration will go to make him look like… https://t.co/akP7aTipyG— Wine Lover (@Wine Lover) 1601780654.0
Nothing says "I work hard" to America more than signing blank sheets of paper. But the real question is whether it… https://t.co/6L4X5XvUvU— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1601835334.0
Not even the seriousness of contracting the virus can make President Trump come to terms with the truth.
While the fake president signs blank pieces of paper the suckers and losers of our military and intelligence agenci… https://t.co/URGV1H1LDO— Ron Perlman (@Ron Perlman) 1601831451.0
Broadway prop masters would NEVER let us sign a blank piece of paper no matter how far away the audience was. have… https://t.co/byWYKcUbfr— Lesli Margherita (@Lesli Margherita) 1601827185.0
ICYMI: A guy who thought wearing a mask made him look weak thinks signing a blank piece of paper makes him look strong. M'kay.— Randi Mayem Singer (@Randi Mayem Singer) 1601832823.0
If this is the hard work Presidents do, perhaps Trump really is qualified...
I refuse to believe the metadata. I think he actually spent a full hard day signing blank bits of paper with a Shar… https://t.co/0tvzpTbwcJ— David Baddiel (@David Baddiel) 1601909956.0
Why are you signing blank pieces of paper @realDonaldTrump? https://t.co/bO5L5XJWKh— Marco Esquandolas 💬 (@Marco Esquandolas 💬) 1601826911.0
The President remains at Walter Reed—aside from a highly criticized joy ride in a hermetically sealed SUV—as doctors closely monitor his condition.