President Trump on Thursday accused The New York Times of a “big lie” for posting contrasting photos of the New England Patriots’ White House Super Bowl celebrations under his presidency and former President Obama.
“Failing @nytimes, which has been calling me wrong for two years, just got caught in a big lie concerning New England Patriots visit to W.H.,” Trump tweeted.
Failing @nytimes, which has been calling me wrong for two years, just got caught in a big lie concerning New England Patriots visit to W.H.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2017
A tweet from The Times’s sports account showed more attendees at the 2015 event where Obama celebrated the Patriots’ Super Bowl win than at Wednesday’s celebration.
The Twitter account noted hours later that the Patriots said Wednesday’s event had fewer players attending but about the same total delegation.
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
UPDATE: Patriots say # of players was smaller this year than 2015 (34 vs. 50) but total delegation was roughly the same. pic.twitter.com/Ij77Def8z5
— NYT Sports (@NYTSports) April 20, 2017
The Patriots themselves waded into the fight Wednesday, saying the Times’ photo comparison was misleading.
"These photos lack context. Facts: In 2015, over 40 football staff were on the stairs. In 2017, they were seated on the South Lawn," their official account tweeted.
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
Comparable photos: The last time the #Patriots won two Super Bowls in three years, 36 players visited the White House. Today, we had 34. pic.twitter.com/Aslvf1RaXU
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 20, 2017
Patriots owner Robert Kraft is close friends with Trump, and he contributed $1 million to his inaugural committee, according to federal records.
The team's head coach, Bill Belichick, and star quarterback, Tom Brady, are friends with the president as well. Brady did not attend Wednesday's White House celebration.
