Why Was Melania Trump Cropped Out Of This Famous Photo?

I bet you’ve all seen this famous photo circulating online:

A dozen wars, millions dead, 1 nobel peace prize.

0 charges. pic.twitter.com/Eq6z8A7dXH

— Rev Laskaris (@REVMAXXING) May 31, 2024

Some view it as a historic gathering of Presidents and their spouses.

Otherwise like Rev above view it as a gathering of Elite Monsters who started a dozen wars, killed millions, and are basically some of the worst war criminals to exist.

Like Chay, who captions the photo “Killers Club”:

Killers Club pic.twitter.com/KycgL8yfhH

— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) June 1, 2024

Or Dom who asks “what is the name of this band?”

What’s the name of this band? pic.twitter.com/TGYO1e6Dba

— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) November 15, 2023

Ok, but did you know that’s not the REAL, original version of this photo?

I’m about to blow your mind.

The original version included Melania Trump!

Yes, really.

Take a look:

Why does everyone cut Melania out the picture? pic.twitter.com/z1PaTewflQ

— Refusenik Bex (@silver918111) November 16, 2023

Here’s another look:

Why cut Melania out? They're all on the same team! https://t.co/xQnR9BhTTb pic.twitter.com/e6d7ysGXIq

— Sunny Life (@Sunnyskies1111) June 1, 2024

And if you compare it to the version we’re all used to seeing you can see the tight crop eliminating Melania.

I actually didn’t believe it was real until I looked into it myself, but it is indeed authentic that Melania was in this picture.

Do I think Melania is “in the same club” as these Monsters?

Hardly.

I think she’s just a nice human being who posed for a photo while they were all at the same gathering.

In fact, according to local KCBD, the gathering was First Lady Barbara Bush’s funeral on April 21, 2018:

A photo of four past presidents and three first ladies at former First Lady Barbara Bush’s funeral on April 21, 2018 went viral. The image quickly went viral — a symbol of the strength and continuity of American democracy said a reporter for CNN Chris Cillizza.

The man who took the original photo, Paul Morse is a New Orleans-based photographer.

According to CNN, the photo was organized at the reception prior to the funeral service. It was taken before they walked into the service.

Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama and Melania Trump joined George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Laura Bush in the photo.

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The day after the photo went viral, the Lubbock County Democratic Party Headquarters posted the photo without a caption – however, it was missing one person. The photo had been cropped to show everyone except Melania Trump.

When KCBD reached out to the Lubbock County Democratic Party Headquarters to learn why the photo was cropped, Leo Flores, the Vice Chair said, “It was an honest mistake.”

He told KCBD he grabbed the photo from his (Facebook) feed and must have grabbed the wrong one. He said once he noticed the mistake, the post had more than 30 comments on it so he decided to leave it alone.

He also said he got busy and has not edited the social media post to say it was an error.

After speaking with KCBD, the post was edited and the caption of the photo now reads:

I apologize for posting an incomplete picture. I didn’t realize anyone was missing until it was pointed out. Thank you for your concern.

What do you think?

Just an honest mistake?

I have to say I like the picture a whole lot more with Melania NOT in it.

I don’t like seeing her with these horrible people.

So just like Bob Ross, I call the cropping out of Melania a “happy little accident”.