Smiling faces from Team Trump on the flight home from Iowa after a record turnout for an incumbent president. Bright new red hats that read ‘Keep Iowa great’.
However, one particular aspect of a photo posted to Twitter by Tim Murtaugh, the Trump campaign’s director of communications, has caused confusion, amusement, and consternation online.
Why doesn’t Ben Carson have a seat?
The photo was reposted by Miriam Elder, the Buzzfeed reporter covering the Trump campaign and quickly gained traction online.
“Well, Team Trump leaving Iowa looking happy/with new hats (pic via @TimMurtaugh).”
Twitter users reacted fast. Most comments focus on the secretary of housing and urban development’s apparent deliberate placement at the centre of the photo, awkwardly squatting in the aisle of the plane.
As the only African American in the photo, accusations of tokenism were quick to appear.
Claire McGaskill, former Missouri Senator now political analyst for MSNBC, tweeted: “One of these things is not like the others. Hint: they made him squat in the aisle so he was visible.”
Another tweet referenced the famous 'Where's Waldo' children's books.
Others noted that the tweet coincides with Rosa Parks’ birthday, and comes four days into Black History Month.
Comparisons were also made to Jordan Peele’s 2018 movie ‘Get Out’.
The Republican team were photographed heading back to Washington, DC, for the president's State of the Union speech on Tuesday evening.
