White House Social Media Director Busted For Tweeting Fake News
White House social media director Dan Scavino Jr. tweeted a video on Sunday he initially claimed showed a flooded Miami International Airport during Hurricane Irma.
In fact, the video didn’t feature Miami’s airport nor was it taken during Hurricane Irma.
The tweet has since been deleted, but Scavino wrote that he was “Sharing #HurricaneIrma on social media with President @realDonaldTrump and @VP Pence hourly. Here is Miami International Airport. Stay safe!!”
Several users on social media said it appeared to be a clip of Mexico City’s airport during an earlier storm. Miami International Airport took to its own Twitter account to set the record straight:
This video is not from Miami International Airport.
— Miami Int'l Airport (@iflymia) September 10, 2017
Scavino, who routinely blasts news organizations such as CNN and The New York Times for what he calls “fake news,” deleted the tweet but did not apologize for his mistake. Instead, he blamed his error on the fact that he was receiving hundreds of videos.
Thank you. It was among 100s of videos/pics I am receiving re: Irma from public. In trying to notify all, I shared - have deleted. Be safe!
— Dan Scavino Jr. (@Scavino45) September 10, 2017
The airport thanked Scavino for deleting the tweet. The public, however, was less forgiving:
You would hope that the "White House Director of Social Media" would know better about authenticating videos before sharing them with POTUS pic.twitter.com/TTourdnZuO
— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) September 10, 2017
You have a duty to 'verify' before sharing. Literally your job. Your improperly punctuated Tweet skips over that. Not okay.
— CindyWheeler (@cincity631) September 11, 2017
Might I suggest @MSNBC or @CNN for, you know, ACTUAL REAL NEWS. K? Thx! xox
— -Bill- (@govierbill) September 10, 2017
Yeah, who would want to verify information was accurate before passing it on to the President?
— John Maddening (@johnmaddening) September 10, 2017
Breaking: tour group stranded on deserted island off Florida's coast after their boat runs aground during #Irma pic.twitter.com/mWNvIfAuJG
— K Doyle (@CalReason) September 10, 2017
Maybe research *before* sharing?
— Kevin Binswanger (@Anusien) September 10, 2017
You're not very professional. Why do you have to "share" with POTUS and VP on social media anyway? Aren't they briefed on events?
— Amazed in Brooklyn (@Brooklynwatch) September 10, 2017
.@Scavino45 hey man did you see this crazy picture of south beach???? Omg!! pic.twitter.com/iUNKc2wQK6
— Rob Flaherty (@Rob_Flaherty) September 10, 2017
you didn't think to do proper due diligence before sharing a video during a disaster??
— Megan R. Smith (@MeganRSmith83) September 10, 2017
your job isn't to effing crowdsource. You have legitimate sources of info ffs. Fire yourself.
— Melissa Byrne (@mcbyrne) September 10, 2017
GIF of a ship sinking just off the coast from the bigly power of Irma. It broke records. pic.twitter.com/Cj1CKgA7HI
— AltHomelandSecurity (@AltHomelandSec) September 10, 2017
Fake news eh? Watch CNN or Weather Channel for real news
— Craig (@CraigNJ66) September 10, 2017
Try 'extreme vetting'
— MTorres_Tx15 (@saenzmom) September 10, 2017
Fake news, Dan! Might want to vet your sources next time.
— Ruby (@motherofshoes) September 10, 2017
Dan! Dan! Dan! Mar-a-Lago's under water! Please share!! pic.twitter.com/K647TgoC9A
— SeriouslyUS? (@USseriously) September 10, 2017
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.