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Donald Trump
 Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.
But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
 Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

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 US politics

 news

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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US
 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363
 Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed
eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.
The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

 Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
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© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
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I'm OK with that My options

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 current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
 Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.
Since you’re here…
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news


  Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

 Contact us

 Complaints & corrections

  SecureDrop

 Work for us

 Privacy policy

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 Terms & conditions

 Help

 All topics

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 Digital newspaper archive

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 Search UK jobs

 Dating

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Support The Guardian

Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Back to top
© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
personalised advertising.

To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

 Skip to main content
The Guardian - Back to home
Support The Guardian
Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Search jobs
Sign in
Search
current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
 Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.
But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
 Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer
 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

 Contact us

 Complaints & corrections

 SecureDrop

 Work for us

 Privacy policy

 Cookie policy

 Terms & conditions

 Help

 All topics

 All writers

 Digital newspaper archive

 Facebook

 Twitter

 Advertise with us

 Search UK jobs
  Dating

 Discount Codes

Support The Guardian

Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Back to top
© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
personalised advertising.

To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

Skip to main content

The Guardian - Back to home
Support The Guardian
Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport
 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST


 Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.
First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

 Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

 Contact us

 Complaints & corrections

 SecureDrop

 Work for us

 Privacy policy
  Cookie policy

 Terms & conditions

 Help

 All topics

 All writers

 Digital newspaper archive

 Facebook

 Twitter

 Advertise with us

 Search UK jobs

 Dating

 Discount Codes

Support The Guardian

Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Back to top
© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
personalised advertising.

To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

Skip to main content

The Guardian - Back to home
Support The Guardian
Available for everyone, funded by readers
 ContributeSubscribe
Search jobs
Sign in
Search
current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error
 Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.
  This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of
the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

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
 

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current edition:International edition

 News

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Donald Trump
 Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.
But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
 Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

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 Reuse this content

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We chose a different approach —
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US
 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363
 Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed
eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.
The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

 Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
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 Elections 2020

 World

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ContributeSubscribe
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© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
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Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
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To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

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Available for everyone, funded by readers
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error
 Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.
  This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of
the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news


 

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

Editorially
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open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
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ContributeSubscribe
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Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
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I'm OK with that My options

 Skip to main content
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

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 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

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 Science
 Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.
But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
 Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer
 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

 Contact us

 Complaints & corrections

 SecureDrop

 Work for us

 Privacy policy

 Cookie policy

 Terms & conditions

 Help

 All topics

 All writers

 Digital newspaper archive

 Facebook

 Twitter

 Advertise with us

 Search UK jobs
  Dating

 Discount Codes

Support The Guardian

Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Back to top
© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
personalised advertising.

To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

Skip to main content
The Guardian - Back to home
Support The Guardian
Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World
 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363
 Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed
eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.
The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

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 US politics

 news

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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

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Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error
 Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.
  This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of
the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news


 

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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer
 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media
As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on
Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.
 We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to
maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
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ContributeSubscribe
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I'm OK with that My options

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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore
 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363
 Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed
eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.
The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

 Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
 US

 Elections 2020

 World

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 Opinion

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 Contact us

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  Cookie policy

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Support The Guardian

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ContributeSubscribe
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© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
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Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
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I'm OK with that My options

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Available for everyone, funded by readers
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 current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
 Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.
Since you’re here…
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news


  Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

 Contact us

 Complaints & corrections

  SecureDrop

 Work for us

 Privacy policy

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 Terms & conditions

 Help

 All topics

 All writers

 Digital newspaper archive

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 Twitter

 Advertise with us

 Search UK jobs

 Dating

 Discount Codes

Support The Guardian

Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Back to top
© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
personalised advertising.

To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

 Skip to main content
The Guardian - Back to home
Support The Guardian
Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Search jobs
Sign in
Search
current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
 Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.
But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
 Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020
 World

 Environment

 Soccer

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 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363
 Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed
eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.
The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

 Editorially
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open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error
 Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.
  This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of
the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news


 

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

Editorially
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We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
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ContributeSubscribe
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I'm OK with that My options

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 The Guardian - Back to home
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Available for everyone, funded by readers
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
 Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.
But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
 Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
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 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer
 US Politics

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  Dating

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Support The Guardian

Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Back to top
© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
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To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

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Available for everyone, funded by readers
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US
 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363
 Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed
eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.
The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

 Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

 Contact us

 Complaints & corrections

 SecureDrop

 Work for us

 Privacy policy
  Cookie policy

 Terms & conditions

 Help

 All topics

 All writers

 Digital newspaper archive

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 Twitter

 Advertise with us

 Search UK jobs

 Dating

 Discount Codes

Support The Guardian

Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Back to top
© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
personalised advertising.

To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

 Skip to main content
The Guardian - Back to home
Support The Guardian
Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Search jobs
Sign in
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
 Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.
But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
 Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US
 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363
 Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed
eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.
The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

 Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
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 current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
 Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.
Since you’re here…
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news


  Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

Editorially
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open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
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ContributeSubscribe
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companies. All rights reserved.
Your privacy
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To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

 Skip to main content
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Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
 Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.
But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
 Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer
 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

 News

 Opinion

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  Dating

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Support The Guardian

Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Back to top
© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
personalised advertising.

To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

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Available for everyone, funded by readers
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US
 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363
 Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed
eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.
The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

 Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

 Contact us

 Complaints & corrections

 SecureDrop

 Work for us

 Privacy policy
  Cookie policy

 Terms & conditions

 Help

 All topics

 All writers

 Digital newspaper archive

 Facebook

 Twitter

 Advertise with us

 Search UK jobs

 Dating

 Discount Codes

Support The Guardian

Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Back to top
© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
personalised advertising.

To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

Skip to main content

The Guardian - Back to home
Support The Guardian
Available for everyone, funded by readers
 ContributeSubscribe
Search jobs
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error
 Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.
  This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of
the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

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 

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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

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 Business

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 Science

Donald Trump
 Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.
But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
 Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

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 US politics

 news

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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US
 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363
 Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed
eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.
The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

 Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
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I'm OK with that My options

 Skip to main content
The Guardian - Back to home
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Available for everyone, funded by readers
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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
 Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.
But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
 Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

Editorially
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open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
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 Elections 2020

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ContributeSubscribe
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© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
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I'm OK with that My options

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current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US
 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363
 Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed
eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.
The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence.
Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The
Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute.
Thank you.

Support The Guardian

Topics
 Donald Trump

 US politics

 news

 Share on LinkedIn

 Share on Pinterest

 Reuse this content

 Editorially
independent,
open to everyone
We chose a different approach —
will you support it?
Support The Guardian
Most popular
 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

 Contact us

 Complaints & corrections

 SecureDrop

 Work for us

 Privacy policy
  Cookie policy

 Terms & conditions

 Help

 All topics

 All writers

 Digital newspaper archive

 Facebook

 Twitter

 Advertise with us

 Search UK jobs

 Dating

 Discount Codes

Support The Guardian

Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
Back to top
© 2019 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
Your privacy
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you
personalised advertising.

To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

I'm OK with that My options

Skip to main content
The Guardian - Back to home
Support The Guardian
Available for everyone, funded by readers
ContributeSubscribe
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 current edition:International edition

 News

 Opinion

 Sport

 Culture

 Lifestyle

ShowMore

 US

 Elections 2020

 World

 Environment

 Soccer

 US Politics

 Business

 Tech

 Science

Donald Trump
Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
 Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.

Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault

over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.

But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.
Since you’re here…
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and
supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism
than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have
chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible
to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we
need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.

The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time –
from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to
the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual
information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the
world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its
heart.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice
our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and
political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or
shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard,
explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in
power.

We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to

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Donald Trump
 Trump stands before presidential seal
doctored with symbols of Russia and
golf
Creator of image hails conservative organization staffer
said to have used illustration in error

Matthew Cantor

@CantorMatthew
Thu 25 Jul 2019 04.15 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jul
2019 03.05 BST

Shares
15,363

Donald Trump at the Turning Point event, featuring a two-headed

eagle with golfing gear. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Media

As Donald Trump addressed a rightwing crowd in Washington on

Tuesday, the audience roared in support – but it was a doctored
onscreen display that ultimately took center stage.
Rapper A$AP Rocky charged with assault
over fight in Sweden
Read more

At a student summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point

USA, the president stood before what looks, to the casual observer,
very much like the US presidential seal. A thorough examination by
the Washington Post, however, revealed some odd tweaks to the
image.

First, the eagle has not one but two heads – making it look a lot like
Russia’s coat of arms. And instead of holding arrows, as the bird does
in the US seal, it’s holding golf clubs. In its other foot, it’s showing off
a bunch of cash. And instead of the US motto, “e pluribus unum”, the
seal says in Spanish: “45 is a puppet.” (Trump is the 45th president.)

In other words, a proud presidential symbol was apparently reworked

to shame Trump over two of the biggest targets of anti-Trump
criticism – Russian involvement in the 2016 election and
excessive golfing – and it was displayed behind the president for all to
see.

How this happened was initially a mystery. On Wednesday, the Post

spoke to a White House representative who said officials had not seen
the image in advance. A spokesperson for Turning Point USA,
meanwhile, told the paper he was stumped as to the origins of the
image, characterizing it as “a last-minute A/V mistake”.
But on Thursday, the Post reported that the image had been created
by a graphic designer who, though a former Republican, is no fan of
Donald Trump.

Charles Leazott didn’t plan for the image to be displayed behind the
president. “It’s just something I tossed together,” he told the paper.
“This was just a goofy thing for some people I knew.”

A Turning Point spokesman said a staffer, who has been fired,

stumbled on the image in an online search and used it in error. “I
don’t think it was malicious intent,” the representative told the paper.

Leazott calls that “a load of crap”, noting that finding the image
would require an intentional search; it appears on anti-Trump
gear he sells online. He called the staffer “either wildly incompetent
or the best troll ever – either way, I love them”.

 This article was updated on 25 July 2019 with the identity of

the seal’s designer and additional details.

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Topics
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