Donald Trump's re-election campaign posted a video on Twitter featuring the President's head superimposed on the body of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The moment it choose was when the rookie lept over a Philadelphia Eagles defender on the way to scoring a touchdown during Sunday night's game.
That video has been removed "in response to a report by the copyright owner."
.@Twitter removed a @TeamTrump video that superimposed TRUMP's head on the body of a @49ers player after a copyright complaint by the owner — presumably the @NFL. https://t.co/bRjM1x17ha
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) October 6, 2020
It's unclear which party — the NFL or one of the two participating teams from Sunday night's game — reported the issue.
Update: It would appear that Aiyuk's agent, Ryan Williams, was able to initiate the process that got the video removed. The unhappy rookie receiver texted his agent after seeing the post.
"His simple question was, 'Can they do this?'" said Williams via USA Today. "And I went on the attack."
The video was removed within 30 minutes.
"In the video, (Eagles safety Marcus) Epps' head was pasted over with an image of the coronavirus," explains USA Today. "The video then cut to an anti-Trump protester's reaction, via ITV News, to his 2017 inauguration."
Below is the play itself, as shown on Sunday night's broadcast of the game. It quickly went viral on social media.
AIR AIYUK!
Brandon Aiyuk hurdles into the end zone! @THE2ERA
📺: #PHIvsSF on NBC
— NFL (@NFL) October 5, 2020
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/8qeyjAHMyI pic.twitter.com/IrBtZu83mU
The play features Aiyuk capping off a six-play, 75-yard drive with a 38-yard touchdown run. The rookie leaped over Epps on the way into the end zone. San Francisco ended up losing the game 25-20.
The Trump campaign posted the video following his return to the White House after the President was hospitalized due to contracting COVID-19.