President Donald Trump’s recent obsession with statues took a turn for the strange this week when his campaign released an ad vowing to protect one ― in Brazil.
“We will protect this,” the social media ad, which ran under both Trump’s name and the name of Vice President Mike Pence stated.
Just one problem: The ad used an image of the instantly recognizable Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as spotted by The Daily Beast:
Trump campaign ads over the weekend vowed to protect a new statue: "Christ the Redeemer" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://t.co/8BdKz6kdfe pic.twitter.com/iFob0uSRl3
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) July 6, 2020
Trump has vowed to protect statues of the Confederate generals who killed Americans in a doomed effort to support slavery. He has also claimed that people want to remove statues of Jesus Christ.
Until now, anyway, his focus has been on U.S. statues.
Trump’s critics on Twitter offered up a geography lesson:
[50k people get diagnosed with COVID-19 every day]
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) July 6, 2020
As your president, It's my duty to protect
[130k people in the US have died from COVID-19 so far]
the most sacred of American monuments,
[there's no plan in place moving forward]
Brazil's "Christ the Redeemer" statue https://t.co/rrvYJyY6Mr
There will never be a cure for the Idiotavirus. https://t.co/uycOjpxC5y
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) July 6, 2020
Is one really more ridiculous than the other? pic.twitter.com/l4bpuYwWcM
— John Iadarola (@johniadarola) July 6, 2020
WE WILL PROTECT THIS pic.twitter.com/mZ40Nxe1Qi
— Jack (@QuinZee33) July 6, 2020
More than 130K people dead and the President is laser-focused on *checks notes* protecting statues in the only country with a similarly inept response https://t.co/21cG8aUJHg
— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) July 6, 2020
Trump's new and improved Christ the Redeemer, God of War... pic.twitter.com/FJpHsQ0flv
— Jake Turk (@71djt) July 6, 2020
In case any of you miscreants were thinking of tearing down the 125' tall, 635 metric ton Christ the Redeemer statue on top of a mountain in Rio de Janeiro. pic.twitter.com/uvOcJuBQPr
— Julie Lynn (@bellafortunate) July 6, 2020
In fairness, Christ the Redeemer is the first result when you search Google for "Christ statue"... you shouldn't expect much more out of the Trump campaign.
— Pé (@4everNeverTrump) July 6, 2020
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.