Rep. Paul Gosar came under fire after he shared a fake photo of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and former President Barack Obama.
“The world is a better place without these guys in power,” the Arizona Republican said Monday on Twitter. He included an edited image of Rouhani and Obama shaking hands.
The doctored photo used the likeness of Obama from a photo he took with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Additionally, Obama has never met with Rouhani in person, and the Iranian leader is still in power.
That is a doctored photo using this actual photo @DrPaulGosar. Given your position as an elected Representative for my home state, you should know better than to spread fake propaganda that only worsens our national security. You are a Congressman-act like it. https://t.co/NHVTgEffUY pic.twitter.com/MAUmaCiBnu
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) January 6, 2020
The congressman’s tweet was met with a furious response from people pointing out the picture was fake. One person called it “shameless stupidity,” while one of Gosar’s potential Democratic challengers said the move shows he should not be in office.
shameless stupidity https://t.co/sWz0doGFXn
— Benjamin Shull (@benjaminshull) January 6, 2020
Some people shouldn’t be allowed on Twitter.
Or in Congress. https://t.co/zeQTgdHwil
— Eva Putzova ?️ (@EvaPutzova) January 6, 2020
This photo is fake. https://t.co/6HtlRRAat9 https://t.co/7iAdOxrvj2
— Eli Yokley (@eyokley) January 6, 2020
The world would be a better place if elected officials didn’t share photoshopped images and take pride in being ignorant. This is irresponsible. https://t.co/fT5uwf5FNb
— Sean Casten (@SeanCasten) January 6, 2020
Just remember the next time a politician screams ‘fake news,’ this guy is knowingly pushing out a fake photo. https://t.co/CnTbmwC4WY
— Nick LaFave (@NickLaFave) January 6, 2020
Gosar, 61, responded to critics by saying the tweet was only meant to convey the message that Obama and Rouhani were both bad leaders.
“No one said this wasn’t photoshopped. No one said the president of Iran was dead. No one said Obama met with Rouhani in person,” he said. “The point remains to all but the dimmest: Obama coddled, appeased, nurtured and protected the worlds No. 1 sponsor of terror. The world is better without Obama as president. The world will be better off without Rouhani.”
2. The point remains to all but the dimmest: Obama coddled, appeased, nurtured and protected the worlds No. 1 sponsor of terror. The world is better without Obama as president. The world will be better off without Rouhani.
— Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) January 6, 2020
In November, Gosar sent out a cryptic serious of 23 tweets with the first letter of each spelling out “Epstein didn’t kill himself.”
