On this day, we give thanks for the appearance of Andy Cole in Donald Trump's Thanksgiving Message to America.
Yes, football fans who felt compelled to see what the Donald was telling his fellow Americans on what is a special day over there were stopped dead in their tracks by the curious appearance of the former Manchester United striker on the screen.
Video has since been set to private but details below:
The big question here is why. Why does Donald Trump feel the need to enlist Andy Cole in his efforts to heal the wounds of division in America? Of what use can Andy Cole be in such an effort?
In his Thanksgiving message, President-elect Trump sought to stress a message of unity. After a viciously divisive election campaign, this was an understandable impulse.
"It's my prayer that on this Thanksgiving, we begin to heal our divisions and move forward as one country, strengthened by shared purpose and common resolve," Trump said.
Here's where Andy Cole comes in. And, before we go any further, the sterling investigative work of @AliD_GMS deserves praise here.
If you type 'United USA' into Google Images, you get a series of pictures of the map of America, some decorated in the stars and stripes, others with the 50 states outlined.
However, on the third column down, you see, amidst all the maps of the USA, a rather incongruous photo of Andy Cole standing in front of the Old Trafford dugout with a couple of more obscure gentlemen, flaunting a scarf bearing the message 'One United USA'.
The mystery of Andy Cole's random appearance in Donald Trump #Thanksgiving message solved... pic.twitter.com/Dj5dJjv7kT
— Alastair Davidson (@AliD_GMS) November 24, 2016
The photo is from an article on World Soccer Talk, a US-based soccer website. The article in question features an interview with David Herman, a prominent figure in the official Manchester United supporters club in the United States. This group goes by the name 'One United USA'.
The hypothesis must be that someone in the incoming Trump administration typed the stirring phrase 'United USA' into Google Images and, after happening upon this image, believed it not to be an expression of support for Manchester United by two American tourists who were chuffed to meet Andy Cole, but rather a touching message of unity and solidarity from an African American and two white American males.
UPDATE: The original video featuring Cole has now been set to private.
For those who missed it, the video consisted of Trump speaking over a series of patriotic still images - flag waving American crowds, US military personnel, as well as pictures of Trump signing autographs for young children holding USA flags.
In the middle of this slideshow was this picture of Andy Cole with two Manchester United fans.
The video has been set to private and has been replaced with a video of the same speech but without the slideshow. It's just Trump speaking to camera.
