BRASILIA: An image showing a packed beach has been miscaptioned online as showing Donald Trump’s May 11 rally in New Jersey. The caption of a May 12 post by former Trump adviser Roger Stone reads, “Yeah, New Jersey is in play for @realDonaldTrump. Could Joe Biden draw a crowd like this?”
Another post on May 11 from a different user shows a similar image with the caption, “I personally took this photo of the overflow crowd at the Trump rally today.”
In reality, the image showcases a sizable gathering surrounding a stage set on a beach with mountains visible in the background. However, the photo was taken at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Distinctive features such as the crescent shape of the beach, the presence of similar tree lines, and a rocky hill known as Ponta do Leme at one end can be observed in Getty Images photographs. Satellite imagery on Google Earth further confirms this, showing the area including Ilha Cotunduba, a small offshore island northeast of Rio’s famous beach.
Contrary to the miscaption, Donald Trump’s rally on May 11 took place in the beachside town of Wildwood, New Jersey, which is not surrounded by mountains. Tens of thousands of supporters attended the rally, during which Trump addressed various state and federal charges against him, portraying them as political persecution, and hinted at potential policies such as tax cuts and fresh tariffs if he were to be re-elected. International media outlets extensively covered the event.
The photo has been miscaptioned; it depicts Brazil’s Copacabana beach, not Donald Trump’s rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, on May 11.
