Hailey Tran
In 2019, following mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, then-President Donald Trump visited Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. Photos and videos of Trump's visit circulated online, with some speculating that the nurses seen with Trump were fake nurses or non-hospital employees. However, hospital officials and communications directors confirmed that the individuals in question were indeed hospital employees, refuting the claims. This incident sparked discussions about Trump's relationship with healthcare professionals, including his attempts to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the potential impact on nurses' access to resources and global collaboration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Trump stage nurses at the hospital? | There is no evidence to support the claim that Trump hired 'fake nurses' to pose with him during his visit to Dayton Hospital. |
| Date of the incident | August 2019 |
| Location | Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, Ohio |
| Reason for Trump's visit | Mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio |
| Source of the claim | A Georgia man (Ghalili) claimed on Twitter that a "friend of a friend who knows a nurse" said that many of the people in the photos, including those in nurses' uniforms, did not work at the hospital. |
| Evidence against the claim | Miami Valley Hospital officials and employees confirmed that the people in the photos were hospital staff. |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's hospital photo-op included 'fake nurses'
In August 2019, following mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, former President Donald Trump visited Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. A photo op during the visit sparked controversy, with some claiming that the nurses in the photos were not actual hospital employees.
The claim gained traction on social media, with a Georgia man, Farid Ghalili, tweeting that a "friend who knows a nurse" at the hospital told him that the photos showed non-employees, suggesting "fake nurses" had been used. However, Snopes and PolitiFact investigated the claim and found no evidence to support it. They contacted officials at Miami Valley Hospital, who confirmed that the individuals in the photo were hospital employees. Additionally, several Miami Valley Hospital employees identified in unrelated press reports were also found to be present during Trump's visit.
While the hospital confirmed the individuals in the photo were employees, some observers noted that their scrubs differed in color, which is standard depending on the unit they work in. Despite the lack of corroborating evidence, the claim continued to circulate, reflecting the controversial nature of Trump's visit to the hospital.
In conclusion, while some questioned the authenticity of the nurses in Trump's photo op, official sources and investigations confirmed that they were, in fact, hospital employees. This incident highlights the importance of verifying information before spreading it, especially in the context of a sensitive visit by the President in the aftermath of tragic events.
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A Georgia man claimed nurses were not hospital employees
In 2019, Donald Trump visited the Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Trump's visit to the hospital was controversial, and rumours began circulating online that the nurses and other hospital staff pictured with him were not actual hospital employees.
A Georgia man, Ghalili, claimed in a series of tweets that a "friend who knows a nurse" at the hospital told him that the photos showed non-employees, implying that "fake nurses" had been used. Ghalili's claim was based on a specific photo shared by another Twitter user, but he suggested that non-employee nurses were present during Trump's visit more generally.
However, Snopes investigated the claim and found a lack of corroborating evidence. They identified Miami Valley Hospital employees in some of the photos and received confirmation from a hospital spokesperson, Ben Sutherly, that those in the photos were hospital employees. Ghalili's claim could not be verified, and it appears to have originated from a source with no direct connection to the hospital.
While the Georgia man's specific allegation could not be confirmed, it is worth noting that the presence of non-employee nurses during Trump's hospital visit was never definitively disproven. The hospital spokesperson only confirmed the employment status of those in the photos and did not address the presence of other non-employee nurses during the visit.
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Miami Valley Hospital confirmed the nurses were their employees
In 2019, Donald Trump was accused of hiring 'fake nurses' to pose with him during his visit to a Dayton, Ohio hospital. The DC Tribune published a story with the headline "Dayton Hospital Insider Says Many Of The People Who Posed With Trump During Photo-Op Were Not Actually Hospital Employees." The article cited a series of tweets by a Georgia man who claimed that a "friend who knows a nurse" at Miami Valley Hospital told him that the photos showed non-employees.
However, Miami Valley Hospital confirmed that the nurses in the photos were their employees. Ben Sutherly, a spokesman for Premier Health and Miami Valley Hospital, stated that he could "confirm that those were Miami Valley Hospital employees." Snopes was able to identify several Miami Valley employees who appeared in press reports about the hospital and were also present during Trump's visit. Despite the confirmation from the hospital, some individuals still expressed skepticism about the nurses' identities.
Miami Valley Hospital has faced other controversies in recent years. In 2025, workers at the hospital claimed that management was disciplining and firing those trying to organize a union. Nurses argued that they were facing unsafe working conditions and that union representation was necessary to improve their situation. Miami Valley Hospital responded by stating their commitment to upholding core values such as respect, integrity, and compassion. They emphasized their belief in direct, two-way communication with their caregivers and highlighted their competitive compensation, benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
The hospital has also been recognized for its quality of care, earning Magnet distinctions in 2008 and 2012. Additionally, Miami Valley Hospital has implemented various initiatives to enhance patient care, such as the Palliative Care Program, the Music Therapy Program, and the Relationship-Based Care initiative.
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Trump's aides may have staged the photo
In August 2019, following mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, former President Donald Trump visited Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. A photo of Trump with a group of people in nurses' uniforms went viral on social media, with claims that they were not actual hospital employees.
The sole source of this claim was a series of tweets by a Georgia man, Farid Ghalili, who stated that a "friend of a friend who knows a nurse" at the hospital told him that the photo showed non-employees, suggesting that "fake nurses" were used for the photo-op. Ghalili stood by his claim but did not provide any further evidence or agree to disclose the identity of his source.
However, Snopes investigated the claim and contacted officials at Miami Valley Hospital. Ben Sutherly, a spokesman for the hospital, confirmed that the people in the photo were hospital employees. Sharon D. Howard, the hospital's communications director, also confirmed that the photos from the visit included their nurses, staff, first responders, and patients, adding that the color of scrubs differed depending on the unit.
While the women in the photo were indeed hospital employees, the incident highlights the potential for misinformation to spread on social media, especially when claims are amplified without sufficient corroborating evidence.
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Trump's hospital visit was controversial
Following the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, in August 2019, then-President Donald Trump visited Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. Trump's hospital visit was controversial, with some sources claiming that "fake nurses" were hired to pose with him during his visit.
The claim that Trump's visit included "fake nurses" originated from a series of tweets by a Georgia man named Farid Ghalili. Ghalili claimed that a "friend who knows a nurse" at the hospital told him that the photos showed non-employees. This allegation quickly spread on social media, with the DC Tribune running a story with the headline "Dayton Hospital Insider Says Many Of The People Who Posed With Trump During Photo-Op Were Not Actually Hospital Employees." However, Snopes investigated the claim and found a lack of corroborating evidence. They identified Miami Valley Hospital employees in some of the photos and received confirmation from hospital officials that the individuals in the photos were hospital staff.
Trump's visit to the Dayton hospital was not the only aspect of his response to the mass shootings that sparked controversy. His visit to El Paso, Texas, also drew criticism, as injured victims at a local hospital refused to meet with him during his stop there. Additionally, Trump faced backlash for his attempts to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) during his presidency, a decision that medical organizations called a "major setback to science, public health, and global coordination efforts."
In conclusion, Trump's hospital visit in Dayton, Ohio, was controversial due to allegations of "fake nurses" being used during his photo ops. However, these claims were refuted by hospital officials and fact-checking organizations. Trump's response to the mass shootings and his broader policy decisions, such as his attempt to withdraw from the WHO, also contributed to the controversy surrounding his hospital visit.
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