Getty White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders takes questions during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on August 2.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is being accused by the internet of trying to say that a stock image of a pecan pie is a Thanksgiving dessert she baked. It started with an innocent tweet on Thanksgiving, with Sanders saying: “I don’t cook much these days, but managed this chocolate pecan pie for Thanksgiving at the family farm!
I️ dont cook much these days, but managed this Chocolate Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving at the family farm!
But many on Twitter didn’t buy the photo, saying it’s a stock image that she lifted from the internet.
https://twitter.com/thistallawkgirl/status/934180774709952513
American Urban Radio Networks White House correspondent April Ryan was one of the first to accuse Sanders of stealing the image and passing it off as her own. She asked the press secretary to send another photo of her Thanksgiving guests eating the pie to serve as proof.
“I am not trying to be funny but folks are already saying #piegate and #fakepie,” Ryan tweeted. “Show it to us on the table with folks eating it and a pic of you cooking it. I am getting the biggest laugh out of this. I am thankful for this laugh on Black Friday!”
That seemed to open up the floodgates, with many calling Sanders’ pecan pie image “fake news.”
@PressSec If this was anyone else, I would not assume it was a stock photo from a generic website, but since it’s you and you love “alternative facts, you’ll need to prove you made it. Happy Thanksgiving.
@PressSec You literally are lying about making a pie… a freaking pie
https://twitter.com/MollyJongFast/status/934182973846577152
Others joined in, tweeting stock photos or others’ images of food items they claimed they cooked.
@thistallawkgirl I don’t cook much anymore, but made this hamburger today… #humblebrag #piegate
Not before long, #PieGate was trending on social media across the globe.
Sanders’ controversial tweet comes days after she was in an especially-festive spirit at the November 20 White House press briefing. She “humiliated the press,” as CNN put it, by encouraging reporters to state things they were thankful for before they asked their questions.
“This is how it’s going to work today,” she said at the briefing. “If you want to ask a question I think it’s only fair since I’ve shared what I’m thankful for … you start off with what you’re thankful for.”
Most of the reporters who asked questions listened to Sanders’ requests and stated what they were thankful for prior to asking questions about the Trump administration. Ryan, however, was one reporter who seemed to take exception to Sanders’ request, with her sarcastically saying what she was thankful for.
“I’m thankful for life,” Ryan said. “I’m thankful for my children. I’m thankful for 20 years in this job. I’m thankful to be able to talk to you and question you every single day,” Ryan said to Sanders before adding, “I hope you felt the passion of my thankfulness.”
Another reporter announced that he was thankful for the First Amendment, causing some in the room to laugh. Some people didn’t think the press secretary’s request was humorous, though.
I’m thankful for the millions of Americans in #TheResistance who are helping to save our country from this moronic dope of a kindergartner. 🇺🇸
I was forced to say what I’m thankful for at a Thanksgiving dinner like 4 years ago and I’m still pissed off about it.
Sanders was promoted to the press secretary position in the Trump administration after Sean Spicer abruptly announced he was stepping down following the hiring of Anthony Scaramucci as communications director. Scaramucci lasted 11 days in his job before he was fired, and Sanders has been in her current role officially since the beginning of September.
Sanders is the daughter of former Arkansas Governor and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and was active on Trump’s presidential campaign and transition team.