Fake newspapers declaring end of Trump era spread across DC

Fake newspaper predicts Donald Trump ends presidency amid mass protests

MoveOn, a progressive political action group, reportedly circulated fake newspapers declaring the supposed end to Donald Trump's presidency in Washington 16 January 2019. (Twitter)

Mock newspapers circulating outside of the White House on Wednesday afternoon were quite literally the definition of “fake news.”

The papers, which resembled that of The Washington Post and were reportedly being handed out by a woman near the Union Street subway station in Washington, featured a brooding image of Donald Trump with the main headline reading, “UNPRECEDENTED: Trump hastily departs White House, ending crisis”.

The paper carried The Post’s emblem, featuring additional headlines like “Celebrations break out worldwide as Trump era ends” and “Pres. Pence begins ‘clipped duck’ term”.

Reporters and Twitter users shared images of the fake newspaper online, describing it as “pretty convincing at first glance” though clearly fictional upon closer inspection.

By Wednesday afternoon, an accompanying website had emerged showcasing stories about the supposed end to Mr Trump’s presidency under the domain name My-washingtonpost.com.

“There are fake print editions of The Washington Post being distributed around downtown DC," The Washington Post’s public relations team said in a statement. "We are aware of a website attempting to mimic The Post’s.”

“They are not Post products,” the statement continued, “and we are looking into this.”

The newspapers were apparently circulated by MoveOn, a progressive organisation and political action committee backing left-wing candidates for elected office. The group tweeted a photo of the papers, suggesting it had witnessed a staffer bring a copy into the White House.

“On May 1, barely six months after the midterm elections, Donald Trump appears to have abandoned the White House and abdicated his role as president,” the fake newspaper’s feature story reads.

“He issued no formal statement, though four White House aides — who spoke on the condition of anonymity — claim they found a napkin on the president’s desk in the Oval Office on the evening of April 30, scrawled in red ink with the following message: ‘Blame Crooked Hillary & Hfior & the Fake News Media.’”