LOWELL, Mass. – Donald Trump may have some explaining to do about some of footage used in his new campaign advertisement.
Released Monday, the much-anticipated TV ad shows migrants on what the narrator claims is the Southern border, scattering. But in fact, that footage is of a Spanish enclave in Morocco, Politifact has found.
Shown with narration that says Trump will "stop illegal immigration by building a wall on our southern border that Mexico will pay for,” the footage actually shows Moroccans crossing the border into Melilla. It was shown on Italian network RepubblicaTV in May of 2014.
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The Trump campaign plans to air the ad in Iowa and New Hamsphire, so far buying $750,000 in the Hawkeye State and $500,000 in the Granite State, according to NBC News. This is Trump’s first televised ad of the cycle, previously saying he didn’t need them because ads on top of all of the media attention would make people “OD on Trump.” However, with less than a month until the Iowa caucus, Trump has set a budget of $2 million per week to ensure victory in early states.
Asked about the video, Trump campaign mananger Corey Lewandowski told NBC News, "No shit it's not the Mexican border but that's what our country is going to look like. This was 1,000 percent on purpose."