Donald Trump has long not shied away from defending the brand he built around his name.
Yet his most recent outburst has many wondering whether he truly believes the things he posts or the messages Natalie Harp forwards on his social pages.
The president spent the night posting not one, but two, furious Truth Social messages about a single photo he says embarrassed him, just weeks before some of the world’s most powerful leaders are slated to arrive at his doorstep.
It marks another round in Trump’s enduring feud with The New York Times, and this time the dispute isn’t centered on polls, policy, or a provocative briefing-room question.
This time, the contention focuses on the condition of one of his most cherished properties and whether the Times’ photograph was authentic.
‘They PAY For This?’: Leaked Photos of Trump’s $300K Golf Club Buffet Leave Folks Gagging as Critics Point Out His Other Club’s Disgusting Violations
‘What Do You See?’: Trump Didn’t Expect This Davos Moment to Go Viral — But Cameras Capture a Strained Moment He Couldn’t Control
The photo depicts the clubhouse at Trump National Doral Miami, his sprawling golf complex in South Florida, appearing yellowed, streaked, and in desperate need of a power wash.
Trump insists the newspaper “doctored” the image to portray his resort as a dump.
The Times says it has the evidence to prove otherwise, and people who have actually stepped foot on the property were quick to back the paper up.
The image appeared alongside a Sunday article by chief White House correspondent Peter Baker that used Doral to illustrate how far Trump has pushed presidential ethics.
During his first term, Trump’s plan to host the 2020 G7 summit at the resort drew so much opposition that he abandoned it. Now he’s slated to host the G20 summit there in December, and the move has barely caused a ripple.
“The New York Times, in writing about one of the finest and most successful resorts anywhere in the world, Trump National Doral, in Miami, released a photo in which the facade has been darkened and denigrated by them to make it appear shabby, filthy, and simply BAD,” Trump wrote around 4 p.m. “They want World Leaders to see this, knowing it isn’t the ‘TRUMP’ way.”
Beside the Times’ image, he posted a bright, gleaming shot of the building and claimed that’s what the facade “actually” looks like.
The president labeled the piece “Artificial News,” dismissed Baker and fellow Times reporter Maggie Haberman as “Third Rate Reporters.”
He also predicted that the paper would one day “be forced to close its dirty doors.” Hours later, he remained agitated.
“Think of it, The New York Times DOCTORED the picture of the beautiful exterior facade of Doral, in Miami, trying to make it look as bad as possible,” Trump wrote late Monday night at 10:52 p.m.
“These people are STONE COLD LOSERS — Totally dishonest. That’s why they’re going TO HELL, and their subscription numbers are way down!” he added.
The Times wasn’t backing down.
“This image is not doctored,” a spokesperson told Newsweek. “It was captured by a Times photographer in 2020 and accompanies our report about President Trump walking back his decision in 2019 to host the G7 summit at Doral.”
The outlet noted that Trump offered no evidence the photo was altered beyond placing a brighter version next to it. Newsweek also reviewed archival Getty Images photos of the resort from 2023 and 2026, which appear to show the same discoloration and weathering on the facade. HuffPost reported that videos on the resort’s own social media pages also seem to undermine the president’s claim.
Undoubtedly, a substantial number of people sided with the publication after the image revealed what he didn’t want seen.
“As someone who’s played at Doral, the Times photo is accurate,” one user wrote on X, adding that Trump’s polished version “isn’t even remotely representative” of the club’s true condition.
Some argued that pictures on the resort’s website and Facebook page matched the image published by the NYT.
“The photos show a shabby, bug-infested shack of a hotel. Instead of griping, fix it, dude. I’m sure your pool guy has hotel connections,” another commenter noted.
Another observer said, “I believe the photo shown by the NYT is more accurate than the AI-generated BS that Trump is trying to gaslight people about.” A user even fetched a recent photo of the resort from Yelp: “Looks pretty dull and dingy.”
Many suspect the image Trump shared was AI-generated, similar to other pictures he posts on Truth Social and through White House pages. One person labeled him a “self-centered egomaniac” and a “big baby” for going online with it.
“The cleaned-up publicity shot isn’t remotely representative of the damage you’ve caused to that club. Like all your properties. Not to mention how lousy and overpriced the food is.”
“It is what it is. I’ve been there. The place is filthy and badly in need of a major facelift. Look at what he did to the Kennedy Center in under a year. The guy ruins everything he touches,” another commenter observed.
One commenter offered a touch of mercy for the building, but none for Trump. “It’s Miami. It’s hard to keep buildings pristine and mold-free,” they wrote. “It’s not crazy to have issues. But it’s madness to create fake photos and lie about it.”
Others maintained the paint job was never the point because hosting a world-leader summit on a golf course seems inappropriate.
This isn’t the first time Trump has insisted something looks flawless while the photos tell a different story. In August, he hurried to call the Reflecting Pool “better than ever,” even as photos and court records contradicted his narrative.
Around the same period, his justification for the White House ballroom project backfired on him.
And when it comes to the press, he seldom accepts criticism in silence. Just weeks ago, he lashed out at a female reporter and labeled her a “stalker” over a 9/11 story, another entry in a long line of public blowups at journalists who don’t present the story the way he wants it.
Come December, world leaders will be able to see Doral with their own eyes. Then everyone will know which image was telling the truth.
President Trump SCOLDED the NYT again for DOCTORING the picture of the beautiful exterior facade of Doral, in Miami, trying to make it look as bad as possible.
“These people are STONE COLD LOSERS — Totally dishonest. That’s why they’re going TO HELL, and their subscription numbers are way down!”
What they did is TOXIC. They almost certainly ran it through online tools, most likely SI, specifically to make the photo look worse.
— JJ🕊️ (@jesseyjay94) October 6, 2026
