Shallow.. but odd... Trumps doctor WH Christmas photo?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

My tinfoil hat theory...he didn't have covid before but has it now so couldn't be photographed?

Link to tweet

?s=09

[Sanity Claws]

1. Photoshop yes

But the reason is that he is so angry, depressed, out of control that no photo would make him look good.
Melania looks younger.

Both of them are disproportionately small to the surroundings.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. Don't see any old pics of her in a black tuxedo. But just

thought maybe there's an old pose that they put tux on?

While looking had to say this is really a funny pic...



Good point on him being too deranged to take photo now

[panader0]

6. Someone should photoshop this photo of trump

with one of Melanoma's nude poses......
Merry XXXmas.

[SoonerPride]

33. Panader0: You mean like this?

[panader0]

35. LOL!

[jmbar2]

41. keyboard clean up on Aisle 2!

[CaptYossarian]

52. Shouldn't that be HIS hand?

Of course, we'd see more of (Billy) Bush.

[mnmoderatedem]

88. only if it's aimed at an unsuspecting woman without her consent

that's how he operates

[CaptYossarian]

102. That ship has sailed in their marriage.

She's ready to self-deport.

[progressoid]

66. +11!!1!

[malaise]

80. ROFL

[MustLoveBeagles]

93. Oh man

I wonder how many keyboards and monitors you ruined.

[PatSeg]

15. Her photo looks more recent

though clearly she ISN'T standing on those stairs, unless she took one of Alice's pills to make her smaller.

I agree that Trump looks so god-awful cranky these days, that such a pleasant smiling photo was unlikely to happen. As he devolves, he gets uglier and uglier each day.

[mahina]

29. Mercy, what a goon.

At least he’s got an infectious personality

[GopherGal]

46. Infectious all right!

I see what you did there.

That's how future generations should remember him: infectious.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

90. +1

[secondwind]

30. What a horrible photo of a U.S. President... shameful

[bedazzled]

36. melania looks.like the Warner brothers frog in that photo

or the ringmaster in a cheap circus

she hasn't got taste in her mouth

[George II]

47. Someone did this back then:

[nattyice]

57. Ah, I always KNEW he was one of these!

[smirkymonkey]

76. OMG, that's hilarious!

I know it's pretty juvenile, but anything that is humiliating to this miserable POS just cracks me up inordinately.

[MustLoveBeagles]

95. Snort

[Rice4VP]

99. I agree. He supposedly depressed and is obviously deranged

the smile doesn’t make sense

[C_U_L8R]

2. Definitely and poorly retouched

Not only did they shave off a hundred pounds or more and straighten his ill fitting pants...
but look at their shadows. That back staircase wall is at least 10 feet behind them yet their shadows
are what you'd get standing against it. It looks more like a really amateurish dropshadowing.

[redstatebluegirl]

7. They shaved some pounds and years off of both of them.

[secondwind]

3. They both look too small in that photoshop.

This image was played around with several times. Is anyone surprised??

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Yes! Was just looking at stairs. They don't look unusually deep

So why does his shoe fit fine with room to spare?

[PatSeg]

18. I did a Google search yesterday

and found photos of those stairs going back to JFK and the proportions on this picture are ridiculously off. Whoever did it is not very skilled at Photoshop.

November 20, 1963

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. Oh wow. So they should have had his feet hanging off edge?

Or in reality, it would be uncomfortable to stand on a stair for pic. Their first mistake

[PatSeg]

24. Yes, as you said

the stairs aren't particularly deep. Everything these people do is artificial and fake.

[George II]

50. JFK was 6'-0", the top of his head is almost even with that recessed molding next to the lower steps

...and he's standing on the floor. trump is 6'-3" (allegedly), he's on the SECOND step and is only a few inches above JFK's level.

Considering the 3" height difference and the 14" height of the second step (risers are generally ~ 7&quot , trump's head should be near the center of the molding, but he's only at the bottom edge of it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

61. No. Angle has bigger effect on JFK, since it is wide angle lens and low and he is closer.

Better comparison is the couple on the second step. They are probably a little shorter but the angle is lower. JFK is much closer to the camera than they are.

In JFK's, the camera is actually looking up slightly and photographer is probably kneeling.

In tRump's, the camera is looking down and camera person probably on a 3 step ladder.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

58. Wrong. People not analyzing carefully. Compare level of heads on 2nd stair to wall embossing. Same.

Even accounting for difference in angle and adjusting because tRump is nearly 6'3" in his shoes.

Also, the hang of tRump's neck wattle is different in the WH and Prince Charles photos.

There is undoubtedly a little photoshopping (retouching), but not swapping heads or bodies.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

67. I don't know... I agree the photos aren't identical. But they are

Way too similar to not be from the same photo shoot? IMHO. So, if it is a completely documented fact that he was in England... How could he also look almost exactly the same in DC in Dec 2020?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

70. Because he is the same person and not much time passed and he dyes his hair. . . . nt

[PatSeg]

77. I think possibly a closer examination

of his hair might help to confirm it, as it never looks the same. Meanwhile, the Trumps are too small for that staircase.

[Old Crow]

79. You keep stating that the Trumps are too small for that staircase.

That is not true and I can prove it.

HERE is the JFK and Jackie photo taken before the Grand Staircase. A man (I don't know who) is standing on the second stair of the staircase. I've added a red line connecting the top of the 2nd molding medallions. As you can see, the man is not standing fully erect; he's negotiating the stairs and looking down as he steps. The top of the medallions intersects his head just below the top.

HERE is the photo of the Trumps on the Grand Staircase. They are standing on the second stair. I've added another red line connecting the top of the 2nd molding medallions. Trump is standing fully erect for the photo, and the red line crosses his head about 4" from the top of his head, which is what I would expect.

Nothing is wrong with the scale despite claims of several people in this thread that the scale is "ridiculous," "laughable," "wrong," "completely wrong," et cetera.

[PatSeg]

81. Okay

I think we've all spent far too much time examining this photo. I understand what you are saying, but something still doesn't look right to me. Maybe it isn't their height, but they sure don't look like they are standing on those stairs.

I've looked enough at that photo. Think I'll focus on something else for awhile.

[Old Crow]

78. Agree completely.

The amateur and misguided analyses in this thread have me shaking my head. Your analysis is more sensible; thanks.

[Roland99]

4. His fingers are in different positions between the two photos

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. Ew... You're right. Do you think it's from another snap they didn't publish?

[CatWoman]

21. photographers routinely take several snaps of photos

using different angles, exposure, etc. and then the best photo is chosen for publication.

[Chellee]

10. I noticed that too.

He just always stands like a lump. He looks bad in his clothes because his clothes don't fit. He thinks that loose clothing makes him appear thinner. No, they make you look shlumpy.

[Walleye]

12. Loose clothing makes him look too cheap to hire a tailor

[PatSeg]

20. There were undoubtedly

numerous photos snapped on that day. There almost always are.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

34. You have to admit some trump WH jobs would be fun. You

go to work and someone says, "Ok, your assignment today is to make it look like they were happy and standing in these stairs."

If this story blows up the poor schmuck will surely get fired

[PatSeg]

74. Ha, ha, ha!!!

I'm sure there have been lots of days like that. Everything is smoke and mirrors with this administration.

Guess it doesn't matter if the schmuck gets fired with barely a month to go!

[womanofthehills]

55. Agreed - most photographers would probably take at least 30 in one minute.

Could be anybody’s hands taken from any photo. I’m a photographer and I always make people thinner in photos but the deal is to do it in a subtle way so it still looks realistic. Looks like the photographer took 100 lbs off Trump.

[PatSeg]

75. Oh yes

Whenever you see a public event with the president, the sound of the cameras often drowns out anything else. When you have the opportunity you click as many shots as you can.

I've made people look thinner too, as well as smoothing out some wrinkles, removing dirt or a blemish, and adding a bit of a sparkle to their eyes.

Yes, that was an unusually flattering image of Trump. I'm sure he picked it out.

[JohnnyRingo]

98. I don't think so

I believe they actually stretched him for the stair pic to make him taller.
The artists also trimmed some thumb off. That happens

Overlay the two:


[img][/img]

[Johnny2X2X]

8. What is Melania wearing?

Can you imagine if Hillary or Michelle had worn a pant suit/tuxedo for an official WH photo? The outrage on FOX would be in full gear, "Why is she dressed like a boy?" "Is she a homosexual?"

Not a big deal, she's an awful person, but her attire means nothing, just pointing out if a Dem had worn that the Right would be losing their minds.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

22. Well, not sure about Hillary... She always wore pants. But get the

point. IMHO melania has, in general, absolutely stunning clothes. Too bad they are worn by such a horrid person.

[MustLoveBeagles]

96. I remember the RWNJ's

having regular meltdowns over Hillary's pantsuits. Not to mention Michelle Obama's sleeveless dresses.

[Walleye]

11. It would just kill them to be honest about anything

[whopis01]

14. It doesn't look like the same picture of him to me.

The angle is different. The hair is different. The hands are different.

[arlyellowdog]

16. It's totally photoshopped

I’m getting tons of photoshopped photos of people’s grandkids with Santa. It’s a Covid thing. You can manipulate the photo. That is the photo of Trump with a genuine happy smile. No one could get him to smile now.

[Goonch]

17. ;-{)

[Laura PourMeADrink]

25. +1. Covid badge?

[NurseJackie]

26. OMG! The "father loves daughter" portrait...

... what a fucked-up family!

[xxqqqzme]

44. What is with the hair shelf?

That thing gets farther and farther away from his head. Is there some wire support holding it out and up?

[NCjack]

23. It's Trumps' war on Christmas. Can't be disturbed to stand for

an original photo. Look how short he is compared to her.

[GoCubsGo]

28. I suspect it has more to do with the war they have on each other.

Melania already has one foot out the door. I'm sure she does everything she can to avoid being near him, let alone get photographed for the Christmoos that neither she nor her asshole husband "gives a fuck about."

[Laura PourMeADrink]

31. Yes... Can't be disturbed! Old pic but fitting

[frazzled]

27. Um, that is Prince Charles

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a27751165/prince-charles-donald-trump-piers-morgan-climate-change-talk/

Just google for Trump and Prince Charles in images, and you’ll see.

[Paper Roses]

32. This Xmas photo is so obviously photoshopped.

They both look like paper dolls superimposed on the background.
Too uninterested in a real photo I guess. Maybe they should hire someone who knows what he is doing.
This photo is laughable.

[grantcart]

37. Not the same photo.

Bottom photo shows more fat under chin and right index finger is more curved.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

38. Yup... Perhaps a photo from same event. Too many similarities not to be.

[womanofthehills]

60. In Photoshop, you can remove fat under chin in so many ways

You can raise the shirt collar, darken and shrink the fat, pull the chin down. With one click - 2 seconds - you can shrink someone’s nose. People expect this now if you photograph them.

[Diraven]

63. They edited the fat out

Of course

[LymphocyteLover]

39. maybe not COVID but just massive pouting

[LizBeth]

40. Hand is more curled in Charles shot and smile bigger goofier in Christmas.

[George II]

42. She definitely looks older than that these days.

[JohnnyRingo]

43. Let's overlay those two images and see if they match

I'll leave it up to the jury
It's interesting to note that they stretched a couple inches of height in the Melania pic. that's why the cumberbund and hands are at slightly different heights. i was going to stretch the pic out of proportion to fit, but realized why it didn't quite line up.

[img][/img]

[Laura PourMeADrink]

91. Bravo!!! You nailed it. Same photo shoot for sure! No way

He would look that happy just the other day.

[appleannie1]

45. I think it is a double for her and photo shop of him

She never looks that natural and he looks haggard and constantly defeated and angry and a lot older these days. That picture of him was taken at the beginning of his reign of terror.

[Old Crow]

48. I'll weigh in...

I do a fair amount of work with Photoshop and I've studied the photos carefully. My findings:

1. Those aren't the same images of Trump.
No one's borrowed the image from the Prince Charles photo and inserted it into the Xmas photo. Under close examination, you can see numerous differences in the angle of the shot, the direction the eyes are looking, the positions of the throats and chin, etc. I can understand why someone might think the photos are the same: Trump is famous among photographers for getting into the exact same pose and facial expression whenever he has a photo taken. It's canned and automatic; photographers hate it because it is impossible to get him to adopt any other pose than the "tried and true" one he's been using for decades.

2. I think Trump and Melania are, indeed, posing on those stairs; they weren't Photoshopped in.
If you look at the marble floor in front of them, you can see the reflection of their lower legs in the polished stone. It's unlikely that those reflections were added. Not impossible, of course, but unlikely -- if the reflections weren't there, no one would miss them, so I can't see someone putting in the effort, especially when adding another fake detail might make it easier to detect the manipulation.

3. Similarly, I'm not convinced Trump and Melania are too small for the photo.
That's a colossal staircase. I think most observers are thinking in terms of their staircase at home, don't have an appreciation for the palatial scale of the photo's architecture, and are making a bad call. If you want to see another example of how the Grand Staircase of the White House tends to dwarf people, take a look at this photo of JFK, Jackie, and guests walking through it.

Do I think the photo has had some Photoshop manipulation? Yes, definitely; particularly in the case of Melania. I'm just saying that it appears to me the two of them were, indeed, posing on that staircase. Also, for what it's worth, a HUGE amount of studio lighting was brought to bear for the shoot. At least two very large light boxes were placed at 45 degrees to the left and right, with another head-on. The boxes have softened all the shadows and that's one reason people are thinking the photo is faked.

My two cents.

[LudwigPastorius]

59. Agree.

[womanofthehills]

64. I'll weigh in as I do stock photography for Getty Images

And spend hrs a day on Photoshop - it's photoshopped.

[Old Crow]

71. Photoshopped how? Based on what?

In my own post, I wrote: "Do I think the photo has had some Photoshop manipulation? Yes, definitely; particularly in the case of Melania."

Are you claiming these images of Trump and Melania were added to the backdrop from another photo or photos entirely? Or are you simply claiming the image was adjusted with Photoshop (which is more or less a given)?

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

69. My one cent...lol

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=14742649

[Old Crow]

72. Yeah, I'm not seeing that.

I see some expected color noise around Trump's feet, nothing else. In terms of artifacts around Melania's feet, meh: Maybe. I see some definite manipulation going on around her head, not so much her feet.

Image of feet greatly magnified here.

[frazzled]

49. It's not fricking PhotoShop, people! It's a real photo of a different person

from a different event. Whoever Frank Verdosa is, he is fooling you, and all your sleuthing is for naught. It's a real photo, just not from a Christmas party and not with the doctor.

It's Prince Charles and Camilla with Trump and Melanoma, at a tea to discuss climate change, from June 2019, at Clarence House.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

92. We are talking about the recent Christmas photo.

[frazzled]

100. Oh, I see ... but why the 89 responses?

So thank you (I was distracted yesterday). But of all the massive issues to be discussed—the ever-spreading pandemic, the economic crisis, the hacking of government agencies, climate change, the Georgia elections, the incoming president and his cabinet, and various world affairs—why such massive interest in this insignificant topic?

So we have a president who is currently either too deranged from his loss to pose for a new photo, or too fat from hate-eating junk food to fit in his tuxedo anymore, and so they hijacked a photo from a year and a half ago to use in the Christmas card. Is this important? Or even interesting? I am totally bewildered. I'm thinking we need to triage our topics here; and it's time to stop talking about Trump.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

101. Like I said, shallow topic. It's a diversion from all the horror.

If you fill every hour with doom you will go crazy with sadness.

The reason this post has responses is that some people like puzzles and interesting mysteries. Just a personality thing.

[JohnnyRingo]

97. Superimpose on image over the other

I'd say it's a match

[img][/img]

[arlyellowdog]

51. Anyone can do it

https://www.capturethemagic.com/start?from=mobile make a Christmas card with Santa or anyone. Insert any photo.

[relayerbob]

53. No wonder his hands are so tiny....

They are really munchkins. Or maybe they are the flying monkeys, hard to tell.

[Tarc]

54. It isn't photoshopped, he just does not know how to stand

with that much body weight and decades of sitting behind desks. The man has the worst posture ever seen.

[cayugafalls]

56. It'z the internetez...it must be true!

Come on people...we got better things to do with our time...lol

[Old Crow]

73. Agreed. DU group-think seems to have set in about this topic, and it's a waste of time. (N/T)

[citizen blues]

62. I don't doubt that he had Covid, BUT...

he got treatments that Americans don't have access to. They hopped him up on steroids to get him through those last rallies before the election. He's now collapsing physically, mentally, and emotionally. He's a Covid long-hauler.

[louis-t]

65. All I can think about when I see the faraway photo....

"And how about Marla Hooch?"

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

68. Photoshop and not a real good one...

Zoom in on his left shoe it’s cut off by a red something or other. Plus the amount of “artifacts” around her right shoe you can tell it was all put together.

Sloppy job!

[The Snitch]

82. this is an obvious photoshop but the two pictures aren't the same theyre different poses

[PatSeg]

83. Welcome to DU

on this Winter Solstice!

We were saying above that the photo could have been taken at the same time as the other Prince Charles one, as photographers tend to snap off a bunch of photos at one time. Of course, he often strikes the exact same pose, so it could be from another day. It just doesn't look terribly recent to me.

[The Snitch]

84. i agree

looks like it could easily be from the same series of photos.. i really don't think trump is posing for any new christmas photos given his delusions and depression since he lost the election

[PatSeg]

85. And the few times we've seen him

he has looked absolutely awful.

[DesertRat]

86. Imagine if Michelle Obama had posed in a man's tux

for an official WH Christmas photo. Just sayin.

[marble falls]

87. These were the cardboard flats used to get ready for the card shot. The real deal shots were bad ...

Melania Trump just did not want to get too close to Donnie. In the end, as kind of a joke, someone said, "Why don't we use the setup flat?" And there you go.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

94. DUzy!!!!!

[Blue Owl]

89. Photoshlub