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In a wave of social media controversy, a viral photo claiming to show former U.S. President Donald Trump with Attorney General Pam Bondi and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been identified as miscaptioned, adding further confusion to an already contentious political narrative.
The image, which began circulating widely across platforms including Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and X, does authentically depict Trump alongside Epstein. However, the woman in the photograph is not Pam Bondi but Belgian model Ingrid Seynhaeve, according to fact-checkers at Snopes who traced the original image through Getty Images.
The photograph was taken at a Victoria’s Secret “Angels” party on April 28, 1997, in New York City, long before Trump’s presidency or Bondi’s appointment as Attorney General. The image only resurfaced from archives on May 20, 2024, which explains why the Getty caption refers to Trump as an “ex-president” despite the photo predating his political career by decades.
The misleading caption gained significant traction approximately one week after Bondi’s Justice Department published a memo refuting the existence of documents related to Epstein, including an alleged list of high-profile clients that Epstein could potentially blackmail. This timing fueled speculation about connections between the current administration and the disgraced financier.
The controversy arrives amid intensifying public and political pressure surrounding the so-called “Epstein files.” Democratic legislators have demanded the release of documents detailing Epstein’s activities, while Trump has publicly attempted to distance himself from any association with Epstein.
“For Hard-Right Lawmakers, Trump’s Shift on Epstein Is Just the Latest Breach,” noted a New York Times headline, indicating fractures within Republican ranks over the administration’s handling of the matter. The Hill reported that “Republicans Torpedo Democratic Effort to Force Vote on Releasing Epstein Files,” highlighting the partisan divide on the issue.
Epstein, who died in his jail cell in 2019 approximately one month after being arrested on sex-trafficking charges, has become a lightning rod for conspiracy theories. Though his death was officially ruled a suicide, many speculate he was killed to prevent him from revealing names of prominent figures who may have been involved in or aware of his criminal activities involving the sexual abuse of minors.
The viral miscaptioned image is only the latest in a series of claims about Trump’s relationship with Epstein that fact-checkers have addressed. Previous investigations have confirmed that Trump once called Epstein a “terrific guy” and that Trump’s name appeared in Epstein’s contact book, commonly referred to as his “black book.”
According to NBC News, Trump has recently taken a stronger stance against supporters promoting Epstein-related theories, reportedly stating, “I don’t want their support anymore!” This represents a significant shift in messaging as the administration grapples with persistent questions about potential connections to Epstein.
The miscaptioned photo demonstrates how easily visual misinformation can spread in today’s digital landscape, particularly when it aligns with existing political narratives. While the photograph itself is authentic, its misrepresentation adds another layer of complexity to the already controversial discussion surrounding Epstein’s connections to powerful individuals and the ongoing calls for transparency regarding his activities.
As investigations continue and political pressure mounts, the distinction between fact and fiction remains crucial in understanding the true nature of Epstein’s network and its implications for current and former political figures.
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20 Comments
Tracing the original image source and confirming the identities is important. Too often, misleading captions and false narratives take on a life of their own online.
Glad the facts were uncovered on this one. Reminds us to be skeptical of unverified claims, even if they fit a certain political agenda.
Glad to see the details behind this misleading photo being brought to light. Fact-checking is crucial in an era of rampant online misinformation.
Discernment and critical thinking are key skills in navigating the digital landscape. Kudos to the fact-checkers for their work.
Misleading captions and unverified claims are a real problem in the digital age. This case shows the value of careful fact-checking.
Appreciate the diligence of the fact-checkers in tracing the origins of this photo and setting the record straight.
Interesting how old photos can be miscaptioned and spread misinformation online. Good to see fact-checkers investigating the details and setting the record straight.
It’s a cautionary tale about the need for careful verification of images and information, especially on social media.
Interesting how this old photo resurfaced with an inaccurate caption. Good on the fact-checkers for digging into the details and setting the record straight.
Definitely an important lesson on the need for critical thinking and not blindly believing everything we see online.
This is a good example of how quickly misinformation can spread in the digital age. Kudos to the fact-checkers for setting the record straight.
It’s concerning how easily these sorts of false narratives can gain traction online. Rigorous verification is crucial.
The power of misleading captions and false narratives online is really troubling. Glad to see the truth coming to light on this particular case.
Discernment is key when navigating the sea of information (and misinformation) on social media. Verification is crucial.
It’s concerning how quickly misinformation can spread, especially when it plays into existing political narratives. Kudos to the fact-checkers for their work here.
Rigorous verification is so important in an age where false claims can gain traction so rapidly online. Glad to see the truth prevailing.
Fact-checking is so important in an era of rampant online misinformation. Nice to see the details uncovered on the origins of this misleading photo.
Appreciate the diligence of the fact-checkers in tracing this back to the original source and clearing up the confusion.
Fascinating how old photos can be repurposed with false captions to serve certain agendas. Good to see the real story uncovered here.
An important reminder to always question the context and sources of information, especially on polarizing political topics.