The State Department might start thinking a bit more about the #content it shows to the world.
Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said Tuesday that the department will consider reviewing in-house content after a recent article produced by a government content factory raised some ethics questions.
Produced by Share America, the State Department's in-house content churner, the article explained the history of Trump Organization-owned Mar-a-Lago, and was posted to the website of the United State's embassy in the United Kingdom as well as the Facebook page of the U.S. embassy in Albania.
The Florida estate was purchased decades ago by President Donald Trump and charges $200,000 for new members to gain access to its golf club and such. Trump has flown there many times since the start of his presidency, and has even tried to get the world to call Mar-a-Lago the "winter White House."
The article was written on April 4 but began bouncing around on social media on Monday. Folks were alarmed that the government appeared to be promoting a resort run by Trump's children and off of which he can still make money. The outcry led the department to take down the article and remove posts from both embassies.
"Moving forward, in light of his story, we're going to consider whether any additional review of this content" is needed, Toner said in a Tuesday afternoon press conference held by phone.
By "additional review," he means a possible broader review of content outside of the State Department's Bureau of International Informational Programs, of which Share America is a part.
The State Department determined the Mar-a-Lago post was "not intended to endorse or promote any private enterprise," but officials chose to take it down "in light of some of the feedback we were getting about the article's purpose — or rather misperception of its purpose," Toner said.
This is probably the end of the issue. Unless, of course, Mar-a-Lago winds up with a lot more members from the U.K. and Albania over the next few months.
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