A young red-headed woman in the background of an Oval Office photo last year is not an accused Russian spy, but a rumor promoting the opposite went viral on Tuesday.
Maria Butina was arrested Sunday and charged as a Russian government operative attempting to carry out a secret effort to influence American politics. According to the charges, she worked as an intermediary between Russian government officials and American politicians through the National Rifle Association to push a Russian Federation agenda.
Twitter users began sharing a photo of an Oval Office meeting last year between President Donald Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, charging that Butina was in the background of the photo. Some journalists shared the unproven nugget as fact.
Mic reporter Emily Singer tweeted out the picture on Tuesday morning, declaring, "I thought this was a photoshop, but it's not. This is Maria Butina—arrested for being a Russian spy—in the Oval Office with Trump."
https://twitter.com/EmmaKennedy/status/1019091116677791746
Look, it's nine Russian operatives in the Oval Office. https://t.co/1NsQt0f6ue
— Greg Olear (@gregolear) July 17, 2018
The photo went viral on Twitter, but users began pointing out the woman in question did not resemble Butina aside from her red hair. Later, Singer said it "may be Cari Lutkins" from the National Security Council and she deleted the tweet in question.
OK all, this may be Cari Lutkins from the NSC. I may delete this tweet... https://t.co/DI0zpju68I
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) July 17, 2018
I've deleted the tweet. I cannot confirm that it is Butina and may be an NSC staffer. https://t.co/DIm1grRI9w
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) July 17, 2018
BuzzFeed writer Tom Namako reported a National Security Council source said it was an NSC staffer, although the source did not say whom.
https://twitter.com/TomNamako/status/1019210350867156992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1019210350867156992&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mediaite.com%2Fonline%2Fwrong-reporter-deletes-tweet-claiming-russian-spy-was-in-oval-office-with-trump%2F
Twitter users created an instant meme out of Singer's phrase, "I thought this was a photoshop, but it's not," tweeting out pictures of redheads like Jessica Chastain and others and saying they were Maria Butina.
I thought this was a photoshop, but it's not. It's Maria Butina -- arrested for being a Russian spy -- in the Oval Office with Obama. pic.twitter.com/Whd8bre8t7
— Paul Sacca (@Paul_Sacca) July 17, 2018
I thought this was a Photoshop at first, but no - here's Maria Butina infiltrating the Seal team that killed Bin Laden pic.twitter.com/ptXdSWVDeN
— Tom Gara (@tomgara) July 17, 2018
I thought this was a photoshop, but it's not. This is Ivan Drago — the guy who beat Apollo Creed to death — in the Oval Office with Trump. pic.twitter.com/XhuNUuE1fO
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) July 17, 2018
I thought this was a photoshop, but it's not. Here is Maria Butina infiltrating a typical Texas high school in an attempt to establish herself as a sleeper agent. pic.twitter.com/HoTTdQhhEC
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) July 17, 2018
I thought this was a photoshop, but it’s not. This appears to be Maria Butina — arrested for being a Russian spy — at the White House and singing with the President. pic.twitter.com/TQ7aCGntRY
— Lisa Tozzi (@lisatozzi) July 17, 2018
I thought this was a photoshop, but it’s not. This is Maria Butina — arrested for being a Russian spy — winning an Oscar. pic.twitter.com/TfnQPWEEa6
— CJ Ciaramella (@cjciaramella) July 17, 2018