Listen to the article
Fact-Checkers Debunk Viral AI-Generated Image Falsely Showing Trump with Blindfolded Girls
A digitally fabricated image claiming to show former President Donald Trump observing blindfolded girls has been circulating across social media platforms, with users falsely asserting it originated from official Department of Justice files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The manipulated image, which appears to show Trump sitting in his underwear while watching a parade of blindfolded young girls, has been thoroughly investigated and determined to be completely artificial, created using AI technology rather than representing an authentic photograph.
Fact-checkers identified the source as an AI-generated video that first appeared on Facebook in February. The 23-second clip featured what appeared to be NBC News presenter Tom Llamas alongside several clearly manipulated segments, including the fabricated Trump scene.
Digital forensic analysis revealed unmistakable hallmarks of artificial intelligence manipulation. In the segment purporting to show Trump, several glitches occur where one girl momentarily morphs into three – a common artifact of AI image generation. Other portions of the video displayed similar technical anomalies, including unnatural foot movements where one child briefly appears with three feet instead of two.
“The image and the video it came from show clear signs of artificial intelligence manipulation,” noted one digital media analyst consulted on the matter. “These artifacts are consistent with current AI video generation limitations, where the technology struggles with maintaining consistent human proportions and natural movement.”
Despite these obvious signs of fabrication, the false narrative spread rapidly across multiple social media networks. One Facebook post sharing the image claimed: “I’ve been posting things from the Epstein files and I’m not sure that people are absorbing the horrible things that have been done to children, both girls and boys… Here’s a photo of ‘him’ in his underwear and wife-beater watching little, blindfolded girls paraded in front of him.”
The claim that the image was extracted from official DOJ Epstein files is demonstrably false. The Department of Justice released approximately 3.5 million pages of documents related to Epstein in January as part of its compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Independent journalists who have carefully reviewed the 14 hours of video content within these files confirmed that no such footage exists in the official records.
This fabrication emerges amid heightened public interest in the Epstein case. The disgraced financier died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, and the subsequent investigation has revealed his connections to numerous powerful figures in politics, business, and entertainment.
Media literacy experts emphasize that this incident highlights the growing sophistication of AI-generated content designed to mislead the public, particularly when targeting prominent political figures.
“We’re seeing increasingly convincing fake imagery being deployed to exploit emotionally charged topics,” explained Dr. Maya Henderson, professor of digital media ethics at Northwestern University. “The combination of a controversial political figure like Trump with the Epstein case creates perfect conditions for misinformation to spread rapidly, even when the content shows obvious technical flaws.”
NBC News has not commented on the unauthorized use of presenter Tom Llamas’ likeness in the fabricated video. Fact-checking organizations continue to monitor social media platforms for similar AI-generated content falsely associated with the Epstein investigation.
The incident underscores the critical importance of digital literacy as AI-generated media becomes increasingly prevalent across social platforms, particularly as the 2026 election cycle approaches and political tensions rise.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
It’s alarming to see how AI can be used to generate false and misleading content. This article is a good reminder to approach online visuals with a critical eye and verify their authenticity before sharing or believing them. Fact-checking is crucial in the digital age.
The ability of AI to create convincing yet false visuals is really concerning. This article highlights the importance of verifying the source and authenticity of online content, especially when it comes to sensitive political topics. We can’t take anything at face value these days.
This fact-check serves as an important wake-up call about the potential for AI-generated misinformation. It’s crucial that we remain vigilant and critical consumers of online content, rather than blindly accepting what we see. Fact-checking is more important than ever.
While the original image may have been shocking, I’m glad the article took the time to thoroughly investigate and debunk it. The use of AI to create such manipulated content is a growing concern that we all need to be aware of. Fact-checking is essential.
This is a good reminder of the need for rigorous fact-checking, especially around politically charged imagery. It’s troubling to see how AI can be misused to generate false narratives. We must be discerning consumers of online content.
Interesting fact-check article. It’s concerning how easily AI can be used to create and spread misinformation these days. We need to be extra vigilant in verifying the authenticity of online content, especially when it comes to sensitive political topics.
I’m glad the article thoroughly debunked this manipulated image. The use of AI to fabricate such content is quite alarming. We have to be very careful about jumping to conclusions based on doctored visuals, no matter how convincing they may seem.
This fact-check highlights the importance of not jumping to conclusions based on online visuals, no matter how convincing they may seem. The ability of AI to create manipulated content is a serious concern that we all need to be aware of. Thorough investigation is key.