House

New McCarthy ad praising Trump includes Russian stock footage

A new ad released by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) that praises President Trump seemingly includes Russian stock footage.

McCarthy released the ad on Twitter defending the president amid the impeachment inquiry and as the 2020 election approaches. But one of the clips in the ad was discovered to be stock footage from Russia.

The clip showing a farmer walking through a cornfield was found on the website Pond5 and is credited to a user from Russia. 

Andrew Kaczynski, a reporter from CNN, first connected the footage to Russia sources. 

Kaczynski pointed out that another clip of a farmer within the ad was uploaded from a user in Israel. 

The Hill reached out to McCarthy’s office for comment. 

Trump has been criticized previously for his relationship with Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin, especially after determinations that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election.