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Samantha Putterman
By Samantha Putterman February 25, 2020

Photo of Air Force One at Daytona 500 is outdated

If Your Time is short

  • The photo is real, but it’s from the 2004 Daytona 500 when President George W. Bush attended the event. 

A photo shared on Facebook shows the president’s plane, Air Force One, amid a massive crowd at the Daytona 500, which President Donald Trump attended. 

Only, it wasn’t taken in 2020 or any time in the last decade.

The photo was shared on Feb. 16, the date of the 2020 Daytona 500, with a caption that reads: 

"What an incredible moment for our President and our country! God Bless the USA!"

The image was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)

Featured Fact-check

The image is authentic, but it’s from 2004 when President George W. Bush attended the event.

The photo was taken by photographer Jonathan Ferrey. Its caption says, "Air Force One takes off with U.S. President Geore W. Bush aboard after attending the NASCAR Nextel Cup Daytona 500 on Feb. 15, 2004, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla."

Several commenters believed it showed President Trump’s visit and the crowd during this year’s race, and for good reason. George W. Bush is the only other president to attend the event. 

Presidents George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan attended the Pepsi 400, which is held at the Daytona International Speedway in the summer. 

Like Trump, the younger Bush served as the race’s grand marshal and was also seeking re-election at the time of his visit.

Nevertheless, this photo is missing context: It’s over 15 years old and two presidents removed from Trump. We rate it False.

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Photo of Air Force One at Daytona 500 is outdated

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