No10 bungles by leaving traces of congratulatory message to DONALD TRUMP on post from PM welcoming Joe Biden’s election as US president – and the text is longer
- No10 issued message from Boris Johnson congratulating Joe Biden on Saturday
- It was noticed that the image had traces of message hailing a Donald Trump win
- Government blamed a ‘technical error’ for the alternative texts being mixed up
No10 left parts of a message congratulating Donald Trump on an image of Boris Johnson welcoming Joe Biden’s election, it was revealed today.
The extraordinary blunder came in a post hailing the Democrat’s victory posted on the official Downing Street account over the weekend.
Issued in the aftermath of TV networks calling the knife-edge result for Mr Biden, it quoted Boris Johnson offering congratulations to him and vice-president elect Kamala Harris on her ‘historic achievement’.
‘The US is our most important ally and I look forward to working closely together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security,’ the message said.
However, eagle-eyes observers spotted traces of another – and much longer – text in the background of the slick image.
A No10 post issued in the aftermath of TV networks calling the knife-edge result for Joe Biden quoted Boris Johnson offering congratulations
However, eagle-eyes observers spotted traces of another – and much longer – text in the background of the slick image. By adjusting the colour and contrast, it is possible to make out the words ‘Trump’, ‘second term’ and ‘the future’
Mr Johnson has struck up warm ties with Mr Trump (right) since becoming PM, while there have been tensions with Mr Biden (left) and Democrats over Brexit and the impact on the Good Friday Agreement
By adjusting the colour and contrast, it is possible to make out the words ‘Trump’ and ‘second term’.
The bungle, first noticed by the Guido Fawkes political blog, will fuel fears that the relationship with the new White House administration is off to a rocky start.
Mr Johnson has struck up warm ties with Mr Trump since becoming PM, while there have been tensions with Mr Biden and Democrats over Brexit and the impact on the Good Friday Agreement.
Ministers have insisted the Special Relationship will remain strong, but it appears Mr Johnson is some way down the list of world leaders Mr Biden plans to call.
No10 admitted that an ‘alternative’ message had been prepared in case Mr Trump triumphed, as the election was so close.
A Government spokesperson said: ‘As you’d expect, two statements were prepared in advance for the outcome of this closely contested election.
‘A technical error meant that parts of the alternative message were embedded in the background of the graphic.’
Ministers have insisted the Special Relationship will remain strong, but it appears Mr Johnson (pictured at a Downing Street press conference last night) is some way down the list of world leaders Mr Biden plans to call