Donald Trump criticized the New York Times on Twitter Thursday after the publication compared how many players showed up when the New England Patriots visited the White House with how many did when Barack Obama was in office.
However, because the Patriots said the photos “lacked context,” Trump said the New York Times “got caught in a big lie.”
“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.”
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
The paper’s sports section posted two photos Wednesday comparing the turnout from the team’s 2015 visit with this year’s visit, when Tom Brady and at least six other players didn’t attend.
Though it looks like a significant amount more were there when Obama was in office, the Patriots said the photos “lacked context.”
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
“These photos lack context,” the NFL team tweeted in response to the Times. “Facts: In 2015, over 40 football staff were on the stairs. In 2017, they were seated on the South Lawn.”
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