Super Bowl champion New England Patriots blasted The New York Times for spreading fake news about the number of Patriots’ players who attended their White House ceremony.
The Patriots went to the White House Wednesday to meet with President Donald Trump, as all world championship teams do. This time, however, the media focused a lot of attention on the players who refused to attend because of their dislike of President Trump. That media narrative boiled over onto Twitter, when The New York Times tweeted pictures of Wednesday’s ceremony and one from 2015, the last time the team won the Super Bowl and visited President Barack Obama.
The two pictures appear to show far fewer Patriots celebrating with President Trump. But, according to the team, the picture from this year is misleading.
“These photos lack context,” the Patriots’ official Twitter feed said. “Facts: In 2015, over 40 football staff were on the stairs. In 2017, they were seated on the South Lawn.”
Here is the original New York Times tweet:
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
And here is the Patriots’ response:
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
Much was also made about President Trump’s friend and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady skipping the event this year. But Brady also declined to attend 2015.
The New York Times was not the only outlet to make the false comparison.
The #Patriots White House turnout in 2015 versus 2017: https://t.co/VOKGP9P5Ez pic.twitter.com/QJzVonQE6V
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) April 19, 2017
Photos on social media appear to show a difference in the New England Patriots’ turnout at the White House vs. 2015 https://t.co/cZgEjSCV6J pic.twitter.com/WW5mcd2MWJ
— CNN (@CNN) April 20, 2017
Doesn’t look like a lot of Patriots visited the White House. Maybe some players got confused and went to Mar-a-Lago instead? pic.twitter.com/C8369Gwjua
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) April 20, 2017