Former President Donald Trump’s latest digital ad campaign targeting Republican voters in Georgia has made a notable blunder, mistakenly using imagery from the wrong Georgia, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The ad, aimed at rallying voters in the U.S. state of Georgia, urged: “ATTENTION GEORGIA: I’m humbly asking you to stop what you’re doing and check your voter registration status.”
The campaign message emphasizes the importance of every vote, claiming, “Only a handful of votes will decide this election. We can stop inflation, secure our borders, lower taxes, and make America Great Again!” Along with the message is an image of a sprawling, mountainous landscape, overlaid with the words, “REGISTER TO VOTE FOR TRUMP. CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION,” which links to a voter registration portal.
However, the picturesque landscape in the ad is not from Georgia in the United States. According to Shutterstock image data, the mountain range depicted in the ad is from the country of Georgia, a former Soviet republic situated between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. This embarrassing oversight was quickly pointed out by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, noting the confusion it could cause among voters. As of press time, the ad was reportedly still running on Facebook for users in the U.S. state of Georgia, despite the misstep.
This is not the first time the Trump campaign has made a mistake targeting Georgia. Following the 2020 presidential election, during the heated efforts of “Stop the Steal,” one of Trump’s key allies attempting to rally supporters in Atlanta misspelled the state’s name on protest materials.
The state of Georgia is proving to be a crucial battleground for the 2024 election. Although voters narrowly supported President Joe Biden in 2020 and have elected Democratic senators in recent races, the state remains highly competitive. Republicans maintain strong down-ballot support, and recent polling indicates that the state is a toss-up.
Adding to the political tension, Vice President Kamala Harris recently held a rally in Georgia, where she criticized Trump and GOP leaders. The rally followed reports of a woman dying after delays in receiving medical care due to the state’s post-Roe abortion ban. As the 2024 election approaches, both parties are keenly focused on winning over Georgia’s pivotal voters.