A South American president appears to have fallen for the oldest trick in the book after unwittingly posing for a photo next to a child wearing an 'I'm With Stupid' T-shirt. Ecuador's leader Rafael Correa was pictured with his arm around the boy - seemingly oblivious to the message on the shirt and the large arrow that was pointing in his direction. The casually-dressed 52-year-old is said to be able to speak fluent English - but seemingly failed to pick up the meaning of the T-shirt. Ecuador's leader Rafael Correa (right) posed for a picture next to a boy wearing an 'I'm With Stupid' T-shirt . The picture was shared thousands of times on social media networks in the country. It is now trending with the hashtag #IAmWithStupidMashi, referring to the official Twitter account of the president @MashiRafael. It also prompted thousands of comments including the suggestion that the child was a CIA agent brought in to damage the president's reputation. The phjoto was shared thousands of times and prompted a series of fake pictures, including the one above . However, his supporters quickly rallied behind him and used the hashtag #WeAreWithYouMashi to fight back. According to the BBC, the boy's mother said that her son had not known the meaning of the T-shirt himself and she is quoted as saying: 'We don't want to shame the president'. Correa, who was first elected in 2006, is popular among Ecuadorians for his government's social spending but has also faced criticism for intolerance of dissent.
Rafael Correa, who claims to speak English, pictured with arm around boy.
But apparently failed to pick up meaning of the message on child's T-shirt.
Picture shared thousands of times on social media networks in Ecuador.