Texas Democrats face backlash after cropping Melania Trump out of viral presidents' photo
Texas Democratic Party members faced heavy backlash on social media after they cut out First Lady Melania Trump from a picture of multiple former American presidents at Barbara Bush's funeral. The original picture, which became viral moments after its release on social media, features former presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama — posing alongside first ladies: Melania Trump Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.
The edited picture was reportedly posted by someone at Lubbock Democratic Party Headquarters on Sunday. The party branch later tried to clarify that it was an accident. However, Facebook users did not accept the statement and alleged that it was a deliberate act. One of the users wrote in the comments section of the photo: "Childish crop job."
While another stated: "We all know you did this on purpose. Extremely pathetic.”
Democratic Party officials, while talking to KCBD, said that it was not their intention to edit Melania Trump out of the photo. The members also refused to take down the picture initially, according to the New York Post reports.
The picture was later — on Wednesday — removed and replaced with the original photo. Vice Chair of the Lubbock County Democratic Party Headquarters, Leo Flores, also offered an apology on Facebook and said that "It was an honest mistake."
"I apologize for posting an incomplete picture," he said. "I didn’t realize anyone was missing until it was pointed out. Thank you for your concern."
Shortly after a party official posted the edited photo, it also became viral, with most of them believing that the party cropped out the first lady on purpose, reports state.
"I Support this organization and I am as liberal as they come but you should have posted the original picture without cropping the photo," wrote one Facebook user.
"This pettiness is why people hate politics & don’t want to be involved in them," another said. "This pettiness costs valuable voices & votes. I don’t know who is responsible for posting pics on this page, but shame on them for altering the real photo.”