The reinvigorated fact checkers at the New York Times kicked off the Donald Trump presidency with a series of tweets disputing, among other things, the president’s claim that the weather let up during his inauguration ceremony; no, the fact is it sprinkled throughout.
The hate-hate relationship between President Trump and the Times has continued, and on Wednesday, the New York Times tweeted side-by-side photos of the New England Patriots as they turned out in 2015 to meet President Obama and again in 2017 as they met with Trump. Sad!
Patriots' turnout for President Obama in 2015 vs. Patriots' turnout for President Trump today: https://t.co/OxMEOqZonI pic.twitter.com/pLmJWhOw1j
— NYT Sports (@NYTSports) April 19, 2017
It might seem petty if one were to overlook the constitutional provision for a re-do of the general election in just this circumstance.
It took a few hours for the Patriots to respond, but the official Twitter account of the team made note that some context was missing. Staffers who had been arranged on the stairs by one photographer in 2015 were seated on the lawn in 2017, out of view of the camera.
These photos lack context. Facts: In 2015, over 40 football staff were on the stairs. In 2017, they were seated on the South Lawn. https://t.co/iIYtV0hR6Y
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 20, 2017
Does it really matter? It did enough for someone at the New York Times to bother digging up the old photo. Not to mention, it inspired a tweet (following the Patriots’ clarification) from Stephen Colbert, which is worth more than gold in some humor-starved areas of the world.
Doesn’t look like a lot of Patriots visited the White House. Maybe some players got confused and went to Mar-a-Lago instead? pic.twitter.com/C8369Gwjua
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) April 20, 2017
I’m thinking @NYTSports needs to offer some comment or retraction here. https://t.co/4TsFh3UDz2
— Ben Howe (@BenHowe) April 20, 2017
We’d prefer Colbert apologize for that joke, although we won’t wait around for either one.
I agree. Items like this do nothing but give more ammunition to trump's fake news narrative. Really bad judgement by The NY Times here
— james t (@TJames516) April 20, 2017
Nah, let's make it the main subject of the next press conference, instead.
— Bagel Catcher (@wh0sthatd0g) April 20, 2017
Patriots give the stiff arm to NYT fake news. https://t.co/j7xtImK2jB
— Jimmy (@JimmyPrinceton) April 20, 2017
When the New England Patriots has to fact check the New York Times over a misleading story that has received 30K+ retweets. https://t.co/8gRHgNvLSI
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) April 20, 2017
Well that has to be a little deflating for the NYT https://t.co/e7m0RozfVa
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) April 20, 2017
Aaaand there's the picture with all additional #Patriots staff. Visual narrative go poof.
Don't compare apples and oranges. Always dumb pic.twitter.com/80i5akb0Pd
— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) April 20, 2017
* * *
Update: This important take just in from Ashley Feinberg.
Fuck the Patriots https://t.co/AvKZQ9IqeZ
— Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) April 20, 2017
I used to have no sports takes and now I have one and this is it
— Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) April 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/JaR45/status/854877524836458496
this is a hot take
— Krispe (@krispekitty) April 20, 2017
It's a good take imo
— "Justin is the best" – Bill(y) Gates (@JustinOArnold) April 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/_david_saunders/status/854877941582487552
Maybe it’s time she approached ownership about a new take.
Owned by both Ted Cruz & the Patriots. https://t.co/3KXKM3DbhN
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) April 20, 2017
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