Fact Check

Is This Air Force One During Trump's Visit to Daytona 500?

A photograph of Air Force One at the Daytona 500 is real, but it wasn't taken in 2020.

Published Feb. 17, 2020

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15:  Air Force One takes off with US President Geore W. Bush aboard after attending the NASCAR Nextel Cup Daytona 500 on February 15, 2004  at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) ( Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Image Via Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Claim:
A photograph shows Air Force One during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the Daytona 500 in February 2020.

A photograph supposedly showing Air Force One behind the stands of the Daytona 500 was widely shared on social media on Feb. 16, 2020 as U.S. President Donald Trump was visiting the historic NASCAR racetrack. Trump's campaign manager Brad Parscale, for instance, shared the image with the caption: "@realDonaldTrump won the #Daytona500 before the race even started."

Trump was truly at the Daytona 500 in February 2020. This photograph is also genuine. However, it was taken in 2004 during President George W. Bush's trip to the annual NASCAR race.

The photograph was taken by Jonathan Ferrey and is available via Getty Images.

Parscale deleted his photograph and replaced it with a real image from Trump's visit.

According to CBS News, Trump was the second president to attend the Daytona 500, and the first to take a lap around the track in the presidential armored limo, "The Beast":

Sources

Segers, Grace.   "Trump Will Be the Second Sitting President to Attend the Daytona 500."     CBS News.   15 February 2020.

The Associated Press.   "Trump Fans Wait in Long Lines to See President, Daytona 500."     16 February 2020.

Dale, Daniel.   "Trump Campaign Manager Deletes Dramatic Air Force One Photo After People Point Out it's From 2004."     CNN.   17 February 2020.

Dan Evon is a former writer for Snopes.