Former US President Donald Trump give a thumbs up as he walks off after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas on July 11, 2021 ( AFP / Andy JACOBSOHN)

Old photos of Trump recirculate online in false posts about his 'return to White House'

This article is more than one year old.
Published on August 31, 2021 at 06:36
3 min read
By Richard KANG, AFP South Korea

A video has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on YouTube and Facebook alongside a claim that it shows former US President Donald Trump in the White House in August 2021. The claim is false: all the images featured in the video were taken in March 2020; as of August 31, there were no credible reports that Trump visited or returned to the White House in August 2021.

The claim was shared here on Facebook on August 23, 2021.

Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post, taken on August 27, 2021 ( AFP)

"Trump appeared at the White House in Washington DC today. He activated Nesara on that day," reads the Korean-language claim.

The claim was shared alongside a link to this YouTube clip titled "TRUMP AND ACTIVATION OF NESARA | RESTORED REPUBLIC AUGUST 23, 2021".

"Nesara" is a decades-old conspiracy theory based on a supposed secret law that would radically reorganise the US economy. Experts have noted recently that it has now been absorbed into the wider QAnon conspiracy theory universe.

The video features two images showing Trump sitting in a room at what appears to be the White House, whilst a male voiceover discusses "theories" of what should be happening in the US, mostly linked to QAnon conspiracy lore.

Transposed in the top left-hand corner is a looped video of an elephant walking; and in the bottom right-hand corner there is a looped video of a man talking, out of sync with the voiceover.

The same video and similar claims have been shared on Facebook as well as on South Korean online communities Daum Cafe and Naver Blog.

However, the claims are false.

As of August 31, there were no credible reports Trump visited or returned to the White House in August 2021.

The YouTube video contains no other reference to the alleged return other than the two pictures -- both of which predate August 2021.

The first image was published by Cronkite News Arizona PBS on March 27, 2020.

The caption of the photo, credited to Shealah Craighead/The White House, reads: "President Donald Trump signs the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security -- CARES -- Act just hours after it was rushed through the House Friday. The $2.2 trillion economic stimulus package includes funds for businesses and individuals affected by the fallout from COVID-19."

Below is a screenshot comparison between the photo seen in the misleading social media post (L) and the image published by Cronkite News (R).

Screenshot comparison between the photo seen in the misleading social media post (L) and the image published by Cronkite News (R) ( AFP)

The second photo was taken by AFP photographer Jim Watson on March 27, 2020.

The photo caption reads in part: "US President Donald Trump signs the CARES act, a $2 trillion rescue package to provide economic relief amid the coronavirus outbreak, at the Oval Office of the White House on March 27, 2020."

Below is the screenshot comparison between the photo seen in the misleading social media post (L) and the image published by AFP (R).

Screenshot comparison between the photo seen in the misleading social media post (L) and the image published by AFP (R). ( AFP)

A clip published on March 28, 2020 by “Trump White House Archived” channel on YouTube shows the same scene.

Screenshot of Trump White House Archived channel on YouTube, captured on August 27, 2021 ( AFP)

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