Many took the bait, and the image went viral.Among them were Fernand Amandi, host of the Strange Days podcast, who posted the image alongside the comment "Yes, they are the same."This is what happened on the other side of the White House only 5 minutes before President Trump began remarks in the Rose Garden. pic.twitter.com/n3UNLTBAKn
— Allie Malloy (@AlliemalCNN) June 1, 2020
Actor Debra Messing also posted the images, commenting: "A dog whistle to white nationalists and Nazis."Yes, they are the same. pic.twitter.com/HP6lTl6RJG
— Fernand R. Amandi (@AmandiOnAir) June 2, 2020
Actor Matthew Lillard also tweeted the image, but later removed his post after it was revealed the image of Hitler was a fake - although he added "it doesn’t mean I detest [Trump] any less."A dog whistle to white nationalists and Nazis. pic.twitter.com/FXnOGlkwjc
— Debra Messing✍ (@DebraMessing) June 2, 2020
According to fact-checking site Snopes, although the image of Trump was indeed taken on June 1 outside St John's Church, the image of Hitler was doctored to make it appear similar. Snopes cites Alamy Images as stating that the photograph was taken in front of the Berghof, Hitler's country home in the Bavarian Alps, in 1935. It depicts him standing in the same manner, surrounded by supporters, but without a book in his hand.I posted a photo of Hitler juxtaposition Trump holding a Bible. It fit my narrative, it suited my anger... it was propaganda. I take responsibility for that. I took it down. It doesn’t mean I detest him any less.
— matthew lillard (@MatthewLillard) June 2, 2020