Former US President Donald Trump recently shared a photograph on his social media platform, Truth Social, which has raised eyebrows due to significant differences from official press images taken during the same event. The image features Trump alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, captured during Xi’s arrival in the United States on September 23 at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
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In the controversial image, the two leaders greet one another in front of Xi’s aircraft, with Trump seemingly saluting. Above them, the caption reads “Only Trump,” and a military plane can be seen flying overhead. However, multiple discrepancies have emerged that suggest the photograph may have been manipulated.
Notably, the representation of Trump in this image diverges strikingly from other photographs from the event. While official images show Trump clenching his teeth and lowering his head during a military flyover, in the Truth Social post, he is depicted confidently saluting and looking forward. Furthermore, Trump appears to be missing a glove on his left hand in the image, while other pictures confirm he was wearing gloves on both hands during the occasion.
The attire of Monica Crowley, the Chief of Protocol who appears in the background of the image, also seems altered. Crowley was wearing distinctive shoes with a horizontal strap at the event, yet in the posted image, her footwear has morphed into nude pumps. Additionally, unique red markings present on the side of Xi’s aircraft in official photographs are absent from Trump’s version.
One particularly intriguing detail is the absence of former First Lady Melania Trump in the image, despite her presence at the event. Her omission adds another layer of intrigue, given that she is featured in some, but not all, of the other photographs from that occasion.
An expert analysis conducted for PEOPLE has indicated that the image shared by Trump is “highly likely” to have incorporated artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Dr. Joe Ondrak, a director at Peryton Intelligence, identified several features that he believes point to AI-generated modifications. He remarked that certain aspects of the image, such as the variations in Crowley’s appearance and discrepancies concerning Trump’s gloves, could suggest that AI had been employed in its production.
Trump has previously acknowledged his use of AI technology, although details remain scarce. While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One earlier this month, he stated, “Whoever wins AI, and we’re leading by a lot, whoever wins AI wins,” before cryptically alluding to its potential applications. When probed for specifics on how he personally utilises AI, he refrained from elaborating.
The former president’s engagement with AI has not been limited to social media. He was depicted in an AI-generated video as the superhero Green Lantern, and has shared images featuring robotic figures with striking captions on his accounts. Just last April, he faced scrutiny for sharing and subsequently deleting an AI-generated image that appeared to show him as Jesus Christ. Trump later claimed that the intent was to portray himself as a doctor in support of the Red Cross.
As the intersection of technology and politics continues to evolve, the implications of altered images in the public sphere are significant. The plausibility of AI-generated content raises important questions about authenticity and the integrity of visual media.
PEOPLE attempted to reach the White House for an official comment on this situation, but received no immediate response. As discussions about the role of technology in politics grow more complex, this incident may serve as a pivotal example of how AI can influence public perception and political narratives in the digital age.