Tessa Quinn
Following the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, in August 2019, President Donald Trump visited two hospitals to meet with victims and thank first responders and hospital staff. After his visit to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, a photo of Trump smiling with a group of nurses went viral. Internet users soon began to spread a rumor that the photo was staged and that the nurses were paid actors. However, this claim was proven to be false by PolitiFact and Snopes, who confirmed with hospital officials that the women in the photo were indeed hospital employees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Were the nurses in the photo with Trump at Dayton hospital paid actors? | No, they were real nurses and employees of the hospital |
| Were reporters allowed during Trump's visit to the hospital? | No, reporters were not allowed during the visit |
| Were the nurses in the photo wearing different colored scrubs? | Yes, the color of the scrubs differed depending on the unit they worked in |
| Did Trump visit hospitals after the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton? | Yes, he visited Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton and met with victims and first responders |
| Did injured victims at an El Paso hospital refuse to meet Trump? | Yes, injured victims at an El Paso hospital refused to meet Trump during his visit |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- A photo of Trump with nurses at Dayton Hospital was rumoured to be staged
- The nurses in the photo were rumoured to be paid actors
- Miami Valley Hospital confirmed the nurses in the photo were employees
- Reporters were not allowed to enter the hospital during Trump's visit
- Victims at an El Paso Hospital refused to meet Trump during his visit
A photo of Trump with nurses at Dayton Hospital was rumoured to be staged
A photo of former US President Donald Trump smiling with a group of nurses at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, went viral in August 2019. Following deadly mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, Trump visited two hospitals to meet victims and thank first responders and hospital staff. However, a rumour soon spread on the internet that the photo was staged and the nurses were paid actors.
Several Facebook posts and a DC Tribune article claimed that media members were not allowed access during Trump's visit, and that the women in the photo arrived at the hospital a few hours before Trump. Some comments on these posts also pointed out that the women's name badges were turned backward, adding to the suspicion. One Facebook post even alleged that one of the women in the photo had been seen at Trump rallies.
However, these claims were proven to be false. Sharon D. Howard, the communications director at Miami Valley Hospital, confirmed that the women in the photo were indeed hospital employees. Ben Sutherly, a spokesman for Premier Health and Miami Valley Hospital, also verified that they were hospital employees. Furthermore, Snopes identified several individuals in the photos as Miami Valley Hospital employees who had appeared in unrelated press reports about the hospital.
The rumour appears to have originated from a "friend of a friend" source, which is not considered reliable. While it is true that reporters were restricted from entering the hospital during Trump's visit, there is no evidence to support the claim that the nurses in the photo were paid actors. The photo in question was, in fact, a genuine depiction of Trump's visit to the Dayton Hospital.
Understanding the ED: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The nurses in the photo were rumoured to be paid actors
Following the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, in August 2019, President Donald Trump visited two hospitals to meet with victims of the attacks and to thank the first responders and hospital staff treating them. After his visit to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, a photo of Trump smiling with a group of nurses went viral on the internet. However, claims that these nurses were paid actors began to circulate.
Several Facebook posts and a Twitter exchange alleged that the photo was staged and that the nurses were not actual hospital employees. The posts pointed out that media members were not allowed access during Trump's visit, and some claimed that the women in the photo arrived at the hospital a few hours before Trump and had been seen at his rallies. One Facebook post even suggested that the badges of the nurses were turned backward to hide their identities.
However, these claims were proven false by fact-checking organizations like PolitiFact and Snopes. Sharon D. Howard, the communications director at Miami Valley Hospital, confirmed that the women in the photo were indeed employed at the hospital. Ben Sutherly, a spokesman for Premier Health and Miami Valley Hospital, also verified that they were hospital employees. Additionally, Snopes identified several individuals in the photos as Miami Valley Hospital employees who had appeared in unrelated press reports about the hospital.
Despite the evidence provided by the hospital and fact-checking organizations, some people remained skeptical, with one person commenting that they believed the situation was "so propaganda bullsh*t from an installed Russian operative." The spread of this misinformation highlights the potential consequences of restricting press access during such events.
Public Hospitals: America's Unique Healthcare System
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Miami Valley Hospital confirmed the nurses in the photo were employees
In 2019, following mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, President Donald Trump visited hospitals in both cities to meet with victims and thank hospital staff. After his visit to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, a photo of Trump with a group of nurses began circulating online. Internet users started to spread a rumour that the photo was staged and that the nurses were paid actors.
However, this claim was proven to be false. Miami Valley Hospital confirmed that the women in the photo were indeed employees at the hospital. Sharon D. Howard, the communications director at Miami Valley Hospital, stated:
> "They are employees at the hospital. The pictures from the visit include our nurses, our staff, first responders and our patients... the color of the scrubs can differ depending on what unit you work in."
Ben Sutherly, a spokesman for Premier Health and Miami Valley Hospital, also confirmed that the individuals in the photo were hospital employees. Additionally, Snopes identified several individuals in the photos as Miami Valley Hospital employees who had appeared in unrelated press reports about the hospital.
Nonprofit Hospitals: Are They Exempt from CPRA Laws?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Reporters were not allowed to enter the hospital during Trump's visit
In August 2019, following two mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, President Donald Trump visited two hospitals that had treated victims of the attacks. During his visit to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, reporters were not allowed to enter the hospital. This restriction on press access sparked controversy and fuelled rumours that the nurses seen with Trump in a viral photo were paid actors and not actual hospital employees.
Several Facebook and Twitter posts circulated, claiming that the women in the photo arrived at the hospital a few hours before Trump and that the media were barred from entering to conceal the staging of the photo opportunity. These posts asserted that the nurses were not genuine hospital staff and that the situation was propaganda orchestrated by Trump's aides. The badges of the nurses were turned backwards, fuelling suspicion.
However, these rumours were proven to be false. Miami Valley Hospital officials confirmed that the individuals in the photo were indeed hospital employees. Sharon D. Howard, the hospital's communications director, stated that the pictures from the visit included their nurses, staff, first responders, and patients. She also clarified that the colour of scrubs varied depending on the unit, which could explain why some individuals were not recognised as hospital staff.
Snopes, a fact-checking website, also investigated these claims. They identified several Miami Valley Hospital employees in the photos during Trump's visit, refuting the allegations that the nurses were paid actors. While it is true that reporters were not allowed inside the hospital during Trump's visit, the claims about staged photos and fake nurses were baseless.
Seeking Help: Checking into a Psych Hospital
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Victims at an El Paso Hospital refused to meet Trump during his visit
In the wake of mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, in August 2019, President Donald Trump visited two hospitals to meet with victims and thank the first responders and hospital staff. None of the victims still hospitalized at the University Medical Center in El Paso agreed to meet with Trump or their Senator Ted Cruz.
Trump's visit to the hospitals was controversial. After his visit to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, internet users started to spread a false rumor that a viral photo of Trump smiling with a group of nurses was staged and that the nurses were paid actors. These claims were refuted by hospital officials, who confirmed that the women in the photo were hospital employees.
Trump's visits to hospitals have been the subject of other controversies as well. In June 2025, there were reports of Trump administration cuts leaving VA hospital nurses and veteran patients in a crisis. Nurses reported that workplace conditions had not improved, with instances of violence, insufficient pay, and unsafe working conditions, including the presence of guns in the hospital.
In May 2025, nurses at New Orleans' University Medical Center walked off the job for the third time, picketing along Canal Street to demand better workplace conditions and union contracts. The nurses reported that their employer was stalling on contract negotiations and that retention at the hospital was poor, with eight nurses leaving the ICU in a single month.
These issues highlight the challenges faced by nurses and the impact of systemic flaws and union-busting efforts, which have been exacerbated by the current presidential administration.
Vanderbilt Hospital: Medicare Provider Status
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the nurses in the photo were real nurses and employees of Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.
After Trump's visit to the hospital, reporters were not allowed inside the hospital, and there were claims that the women in the photo arrived at the hospital a few hours before Trump.
Sharon D. Howard, the communications director at Miami Valley Hospital, confirmed that the women in the photo were employees at the hospital.
Yes, there were reports that injured victims at an El Paso Hospital refused to meet Trump during his visit.
Many people on social media claimed that the photo was staged and that the nurses were paid actors. There were also comments about the lack of media access during Trump's visit.
