Donald Trump Jr caused controversy last night after comparing Syrian refugees to poisoned sweets.
It has since emerged that a photo shared by the Republican candidate's son to illustrate the point was taken by a former refugee.
David Kittos, from the UK, told the BBC that the image from his Flickr account was posted without his permission.
"I don't support his politics and I would never take his money to use it," the 48-year-old photographer said.
"In 1974, when I was six-years old, I was a refugee from the Turkish occupation of Cyprus so I would never approve the use of this image against refugees."
Trump Jr son - who serves as the Executive Vice President at The Trump Organisation, alongside his two siblings Ivanka and Eric - tweeted the photo with a question asking whether you would take a handful if he told you three could kill you.
This image says it all. Let's end the politically correct agenda that doesn't put America first. #trump2016 pic.twitter.com/9fHwog7ssN
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 19, 2016
The analogy was heavily criticised across social media, with many users sharing pictures of refugees in response to Mr Trump's post.
Oh and human beings fleeing oppression and terror aren't skittles. https://t.co/wXK24wvurK
— John Legend (@johnlegend) September 20, 2016
The bowl of skittles aren't vetted. Refugees are vetted for 18 months. @DonaldJTrumpJr
— (((#NeverTrump))) (@ProgressOutlook) September 19, 2016
Hey @DonaldJTrumpJr, this is one of the millions of children you compared to a poisoned Skittle today: https://t.co/SDSGw0eUIP pic.twitter.com/HuhY9RGvWW
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) September 20, 2016
The Washington Post, arguing that the analogy is "completely wrong", cited a recent report that found that "from 1975 through 2015, the annual chance that an American would be murdered in a terrorist attack carried out by a foreign-born terrorist was 1 in 3,609,709".
In a response to US reporters, a representative for Skittles said: "Skittles are candy. Refugees are people. We don't feel it's an appropriate analogy."
A rep for @Skittles gives me their response to @DonaldJTrumpJr pic.twitter.com/OmkJQkIqug
— Seth Abramovitch (@SethAbramovitch) September 20, 2016