- A purported Christmas card featuring Donald Trump has spread among thousands of social media users.
- People on social media noted that the outline of his tuxedo in the card looked phallic.
- But fact-checkers say it's likely a doctored version of a photo taken during his UK visit in 2019.
A fake Christmas card of former President Donald Trump that's spreading on Twitter and Facebook is likely using an altered version of a photo taken during his 2019 visit to Buckingham Palace, according to fact-checkers at Reuters.
The card features a pixelated, black-and-white image of Trump clad in a tuxedo with a stern expression on his face. Behind him is a low-resolution image of what appears to be a nativity scene, a forest of Christmas trees, and an outline of reindeer pulling a Santa Claus sleigh in the night sky.
People who shared the doctored image on social media noted that the outline of his tuxedo (in the fabricated card) appeared phallic.
—Victoria Brownworth 🎄✨ (@VABVOX) December 6, 2021
"Merry Christmas from the Winter White House," the card says, with five Christmas tree ornaments each depicting a member of Trump's family.
The circulated image is almost identical to a photo of when Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump visited Queen Elizabeth II in London. Notably, the design of his tuxedo is different from the original photo, and the size of his hands appears to be altered.
—Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) June 3, 2019
It's unclear where exactly the manipulated image — or the Christmas card — originated from.
The fake Christmas card isn't available on Trump's official website, nor is it listed on his online shop, which features his real greeting card.
Trump's spokesperson, Liz Harrington, also told Reuters that the image on the card "is fake and did not come from us."
Additionally, Trump typically signs statements and endorsements as: "Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America," instead of "President Donald J. Trump" as on the fabricated card, Reuters fact-checkers noted.