With solely days to go till the 2024 U.S. presidential election, web customers shared three images showing to point out a swastika — the image related to Nazi Germany — on a marketing campaign signal for Republican former President Donald Trump in Barnwell, South Carolina.
One of many photos confirmed that the signal displayed the textual content, “Paid for by Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee. A joint fundraising committee composed of and approved by Donald J. Trump for President 2024, Inc., and Save America. DonaldJTrump.com.”
Nevertheless, whereas the Trump marketing campaign sells a similar sign matching lots of the particulars of the signal within the images, the marketing campaign doesn’t promote any merchandise displaying a swastika. Somebody both altered an current signal so as to add the image or created completely new signage.
‘Seen in Barnwell’
In considered one of a number of examples of customers sharing the images of the signal on Facebook, Reddit and X, X consumer Taylor Schumann (@taylorsschumann) posted (archived) on Oct. 27, “Seen in Barnwell, South Carolina. Shared within the SC Ladies for Harris Fb group. Native sheriff was alerted.”
Schumann created her publish shortly after seeing the unique publish containing the identical images within the non-public Fb group South Carolina Women for Harris Walz. One of many group’s customers, Elizabeth Grushkowsky, posted the images that morning, writing, “I am so sorry that is upsetting materials. I do not know who this must be despatched to. The Barnwell County Sheriff has already been made conscious of the signal.”
On Messenger, Grushkowsky informed Snopes that she took the images on Oct. 26. “Initially, I noticed the signal as my mother and I had been leaving a pageant in Barnwell. She was driving and I seen the signal as we had been at a cease signal,” she mentioned.
“I used to be not the one who contacted the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Workplace. My mom despatched her former boss the images as a result of her boss is an enormous Trump supporter. Her boss then determined to contact each the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Workplace and the SC Republican Get together. In accordance with her, all this occurred on Saturday, Oct. 26.”
She added that, as of Oct. 28, she had not heard again from native authorities.
We referred to as and emailed the Barnwell Police Division to ask in regards to the matter. We didn’t but obtain any additional particulars or acknowledgement they had been conscious of the signal.
Moreover, one consumer commenting underneath Grushkowsky’s publish replied {that a} consultant for the Barnwell County Democratic Get together informed them by way of Messenger that they had been unfamiliar with the signage. Not one of the different 100-plus feedback within the non-public Fb group’s publish appeared to share additional data that may make clear this matter.
A Prank?
Many customers referred to as out the signal displayed within the photos as an obvious prank with “pretend” indicators (archived). The phrase “pretend” mirrored not that somebody altered the images however fairly the thought somebody who presumably opposed Trump’s politics altered an current signal or created a wholly new one.
For instance, one consumer posited in a reply to Schumann on X (archived) — with out offering proof — “So the native Ladies for Harris made an indication with a Nazi image on it to fabricate pretend outrage.” One other particular person additionally sarcastically replied (archived) of the signal, “I do know proper. You could possibly by no means pretend that.” A distinct consumer posted (archived), “That is hysterically silly. What was the native sheriff presupposed to do? Arrest a Democrat for placing up pretend Trump indicators?”
The Location of the Signal
The situation the place Grushkowsky shot the images was in entrance of Veterans Memorial Park in Barnwell, additionally displayed on an indication as Barnwell Lions Membership Memorial Park. Google Street View recognized the situation as proper round 11266 U.S. Freeway 278, or Ellenton Avenue. The Trump signal was not but seen when the Google Avenue View automobile captured images in April 2024.
We referred to as companies situated near the identical location however didn’t attain anybody throughout common enterprise hours.
