President Donald Trump retweets altered IndyStar cartoon

An IndyStar editorial cartoon retweeted Tuesday on President Trump’s account and later deleted is an altered version of a cartoon originally published in January.

The original image, created by IndyStar cartoonist Gary Varvel, depicted a Democratic donkey trying to hold back the Trump train.

The altered image shows a CNN logo covering the donkey's face and includes the words "fake news can't stop the Trump train."

MSNBC, The Daily Beast and CNN reported Tuesday morning that Trump's account retweeted the altered image. A White House official later told the New York Times that the tweet of the train was posted inadvertently and was deleted as soon as it was noticed.

The real cartoon: Cartoonist Gary Varvel: Stopping the Trump train

More Varvel cartoons: Trump's presidency illustrated

“We don’t know who altered Gary’s original cartoon, but we’re looking into it,” said Jeff Taylor, editor and vice president for news of The Indianapolis Star and IndyStar.com. “The cartoon was altered without anyone’s knowledge or permission at The Star."

This isn't the first time Trump's account has retweeted an altered image showing aggression toward CNN.

In early July, Trump tweeted a GIF from one of his 2007 WWE appearances. The video clip showed Trump wrestling WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to the ground and punching him. In the GIF, McMahon's head was replaced with the CNN logo.

Trump's retweet storm: A Pizzagate conspiracy theorist, a train hitting CNN, and accusations of fascism

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at (317) 444-6138 or email him at justin.mack@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.