Trump’s Social Media Director Just Tweeted Out a Fake Irma Video

Miami International Airport is trying to clean up the mess.

Irma-trackers, beware: Fake images and videos of the storm’s damage are going viral, including one that was posted Sunday afternoon by the White House’s own director of social media and assistant to President Trump, Dan Scavino, Jr.

But… it’s not Miami International Airport. That’s according to Miami International Airport itself, which began replying directly to people on Twitter who were reposting the video to their own feeds. Scavino has since deleted his tweet.

The footage posted by Scavino can be found on a YouTube page claiming to be showing an airport in Mexico City:

The Washington Post is putting together a comprehensive list of viral hoaxes to avoid while you’re tracking Hurricane Irma up Florida’s Gold Coast. Stay vigilant. Check before clicking “retweet.”

From Scavino, a mea culpa:

https://twitter.com/Scavino45/status/906979635858210817

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate