GOP Mocked for Posting Trump Photo with Russia Lada Car
By: Sarah Rumpf (Mediaite)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
At least it wasn't a Trabi.
The official GOP social media accounts posted an image Thursday evening of President Donald Trump standing in front of a car with a caption saying "Making Automobiles Great Again" — drawing swift mockery because the automobile pictured was not only not American, it was a Russian Lada.
The posts went up on multiple GOP accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, and X, and showed the president with his fists raised in the air and wearing his customary red MAGA hat, blue suit, and red tie.
The One Big Beautiful bill will drive the return of the great American car.
pic.twitter.com/poAsG8pDKg
— GOP (@GOP) July 31, 2025
The image was labeled "MAKING AUTOMOBILES GREAT AGAIN" and the caption read, "The One Big Beautiful bill will drive the return of the great American car."
Except that was definitely not an American car in the photo. It's a compact 4-door Russia Lada sedan, specifically the VAZ 2101 or Lada 1200.
Ladas were first manufactured in the Soviet Union in 1970 and are by far the best-selling cars in Russia, due to their more budget-friendly price and better reliability compared to some other car makers in communist countries.
These cars weren't even sold in the U.S. due to trade sanctions against Russia, and the company largely withdrew from the Western European market over the years due to not wanting to comply with stricter emissions and safety regulations, falling sales due to outdated design aesthetics, and additional sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
An extremely small number of Ladas have made it to the U.S., mostly in the hands of collectors. A search on eBay found only four for sale in the entire U.S., like the below listing that touts the car as your chance to own "a piece of Cold War history" and "true conversation starter" — but with the caveat that it has no vehicle history report or VIN.
On X, the GOP tweet soon got several pending Community Notes pointing out that this was a stock image of a Lada and "not an American car."
Screenshot via X.
Not only was the Lada not sold in the U.S., it's simply not a competitor for U.S. cars in foreign markets either. Regardless of the veracity of the GOP's claim that the controversial "One Big Beautiful Bill" act that narrowly passed the Senate last month "will drive the return of the American car," the Lada was not and never has been a challenge or threat to that happening.
Social media responded the way social media does, with mocking and memes, and it didn't take long for the stock image of the Lada to be identified.
Several commenters pointed out that this seemed to be an attempt to distract from the Epstein files mess. Many used some form of the word "idiots" and used the gaffe to criticize the Trump administration's economic policies. A selection of reactions is below.
Please join us at the Versailles inspired White House Gold Plated Disco Walmart to celebrate the all-new turbo diesel coal 2027 Soviet MAGA Lada pic.twitter.com/CbAmg6HxWi
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) August 1, 2025
pic.twitter.com/SlqTl1V862
— CanLen (@CandiceLen) August 1, 2025
The GOP is proud to announce that under Trump this car is possible in America. pic.twitter.com/BjwdKHKqWT
— Morgan Cameron Ross (@Morgan_C_Ross) August 1, 2025
Guys, that's a Lada. You can't really be this incompetent, can you?
— Patrick S. Tomlinson (@stealthygeek) August 1, 2025
The GOP could at least have used a picture of Detroit's equivalent of the Lada. . . like this: pic.twitter.com/5qwjq6iPQU
— AlanReynoldsEcon (@AlanReynoldsEcn) August 1, 2025
That's a RUSSIAN LADA YOU IDIOTS!!!!! https://t.co/6ionegwgFf
— John Jackson (@hissgoescobra) August 1, 2025
Dear GOP,
When talking about the great American car, please picture an American car.
Sincerely,
— carolyn tackett (@CarolsCloset) August 1, 2025
Everyone
This is a Soviet car — so close! https://t.co/oZL3KaqwStpic.twitter.com/HKnxlI6zgU
— Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) August 1, 2025
I challenge you to find a picture that better sums things up pic.twitter.com/vAiFLGAxRG
— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) August 1, 2025
It's a Lada. A fucking LADA.
In the annals of "worst cars in history," it's second only to the freaking Trabant. https://t.co/0Wk4C2bF1G
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) August 1, 2025
Yep, it's a Lada. Here's the original stock photo.https://t.co/zoY1tqvl9C
— Drew Cline (@DrewHampshire) August 1, 2025
How the fuck do you photoshop Trump in front of a famously shitty Soviet made car!?
Idiots https://t.co/EydYWkpvXn
— Mike Nellis (@MikeNellis) August 1, 2025
Making Russian-made Automobiles Great Again, I guess.
How hard is it to Google and find a picture of a Mustang?!? https://t.co/l2j2e5CJLY
— Derek Ryan (@longhornderek) August 1, 2025
That's a car from the Soviet Union.
Thanks for clarifying who you're actually putting first, @GOP. https://t.co/GpYShaVRNc
— Democrats (@TheDemocrats) August 1, 2025
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The official GOP social media page must be trying to sabotage their god, Donald Trump, OR they are just morons. Take your pick.
Are we sure the Russians didn't hack the GOP account and post this image?
I dont know why anyone wanting to praise Trump would pick that car even if it wasnt Russian. It doesnt exactly shout "lets all buy this".
Appropriate!