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A “Trump2024” banner labeled “Promoted by Team Trump” sat atop the What’s Happening summary on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, during the fourth and final night of the Republican National Convention on Thursday.
While the #Trump2024 hashtag temporarily showed the American flag, and clicking it caused an animated “hashfetti” effect with flags raining down, it was the icon attached to the number one trending #MAGA topic that caught our eyes.
It temporarily featured a low-res version of a now-famous image showing Trump with his fist raised while being lifted to his feet by Secret Service agents following an assassination attempt during his campaign event last weekend. However, that image, taken from that angle, looks just like the one owned by The Associated Press and its photographer, Evan Vucci.
Asked about the hashflag, Associated Press communications VP Lauren Easton responded, “This is not an authorized use of our photo,” which is “available for editorial use only.”
“The Associated Press is proud of Evan Vucci’s photo and recognizes its impact. In addition, we reserve our rights to this powerful image,” wrote Easton earlier this week in response to its unlicensed use on T-shirts, coffee mugs, and other items.
In response to an inquiry from The Verge, someone responded from the X press email account, without attaching their name, stating that the hashmoji and hashfetti animations are “a commercially available product.” According to a post on X’s business blog, the animated effect has been used by more than 30 brands since its first appearance during a Louis Vuitton campaign last year.
The account did not respond to a question about whether the AP has licensed its image for this use or to confirm the purchaser of this commercially available product.
