Was the Trump Campaign Going to Use ‘Spy Gadgets’ on a Blimp to Collect Voter Data?

It’s not crazy to think that Donald Trump might deploy a blimp over swing states to advertise for his re-election campaign. But would he use “state-of-the art spy gadgets” to collect data on those living below? 

That was the claim of a post by America Web Media first published in March. The article was shared again by America Web Media on Sunday, and received more than 100,000 views across various AWM Facebook pages within 24 hours.

And in fact, the Trump campaign was, at one point, planning to send a campaign blimp emblazoned with the Trump-Pence logo over swing states from May to July, as reported in early March by Politico, the Associated Press, Fox News, and other outlets. According to these stories, the campaign was also potentially going to offer the chance for Trump supporters to enter a contest to go aboard the blimp. The blimp was planned to serve a dual purpose: campaigning and collecting voter data. While the America Web Media article claims such data will be collected with “state-of-the-art spy gadgets,” the reporting from March indicated that voter information would be collected through a message on the blimp encouraging those who see it to text the Trump campaign. The campaign would then be able to use the respondents’  contact information for donation requests and to send election materials.

A lot has changed since this initial round of reporting occured. Politico reported that “According to two campaign aides familiar with the plans, it is expected to appear above sporting events and other large gatherings.” With such events disappearing thanks to the coronavirus pandemic and campaigning having to change with these unusual times, it does not look like the Trump blimp ever made it beyond the planning stage. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment, but there have been no reports of sightings of the blimp and the campaign has said nothing about it publicly.

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Comments (16)
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  • I thought it was a re-purposed "The Onion" article.

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  • Espionage has advanced to the point where we can now hide a *checks notes* blimp in plain site without anyone noticing.

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    1. Hmm, your profile pic looks suspiciously familiar... take off those glasses!

      I knew it - Frank Zappa!

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  • Kind of a waste of (my) time to "debunk" something already crazy enough to ignore. Why was this worth TD's time and money?

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    1. I'd say an article re-posted from four months ago—not just making but repeating a baseless big-if-true contention—that gets 100,000 views within 24 hours, is worth a fact check.

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  • All I can say is it was gonna be a YUUUUUUUUUGE Blimp! The best blimp! And catered by Blimpies! And hell yeah, I'd have taken a ride in it. I've been in hot air balloons, and this would be next level cool.

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  • It's diabolically clever! Hide a spy gadget in plain sight! And what is in plainer sight but a blimp?? LOL!

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  • Nothing says state-of-the-art spy gadgets quite like a giant blimp

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    1. “Tonight on ‘Spy Blimp’, the the crew faces its toughest challenge yet... crosswinds! Will they complete the mission in time? Tune in to find out...”

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  • That image does looks similar to the aerostats we use to monitor perimeters around bases in Afghanistan and elsewhere, but obviously not the same: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tethered_Aerostat_Radar_System

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  • I wish this was true! State of the art spy blimp! James Bond boards it and fights Mike Pence in hand to hand combat for the nuclear codes that will reduce Montana to ashes! As Trump has a battalion of marines armed with Javlin missiles shooting up at the sky not caring about friendly fire, the blimp careens down in a Hindenburg fiery furnace. Pence defeats Mr. Bond with an America First fist to the face (Because, Murcia!) and neither escape the crash explosion.

    A Bald Eagle caws in the distance.

    Bet you all didn’t see that ending coming did you?

    This was an excerpt from David French’s never to be release trilogy of fiction: “When Aqua-man doesn’t exist but Trump does”.

    Thanks for the update Alec.

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    1. This is the funniest thing I've read all day!

      Maybe the blimp could emerge from Mt Rushmore (like in that Team America movie) before the epic battle between Mike Pence and James Bond ensues.

      Honestly, I don't know how the Onion still exists. You can't make this stuff up.

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    2. Wish I could Like this twice.

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  • Funny how this didn't merit a simple "No", like almost all of your fact checks. But, then again, it involves OrangemanBad, so a no might reflect commision.

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    1. You beat me to it.

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