Trump posts AI-edited White House restoration photo on Truth Social
Trump shared a White House restoration photo on Truth Social that The Verge says was flagged as AI-edited.
The Verge reported that the image was flagged as AI-generated when uploaded to Google’s SynthID Detector, which scans images, videos, and audio for an invisible watermark indicating content was “created or edited” with AI. The publication said the SynthID watermark was not detected on other pictures Trump posted, which showed the White House facade and heliport.
Reddit users pointed out several discrepancies in the “restored” column image, according to The Verge. The column has an uneven number of steps on both sides, and the number of steps does not match the “before” photo. The before and after images also appear nearly identical in angle and detail, with nearly the same reflection in the windows and the protective cardboard at the bottom of the column in the same spot. The “newly-painted” column looks unnaturally smooth, the report said.
Real pictures show people painting the front of the White House in June, so it is possible the column did receive a fresh coat of paint, The Verge reported. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to the publication.
The Verge noted that Trump is no stranger to AI tools, as he often posts AI-generated caricatures of himself. The White House has also been known to post racist AI memes and at least one photo deceptively edited to make a protester appear distraught, the report said.
Editor's Summary President Donald Trump shared photos of White House renovations on Truth Social, and one before-and-after image of a column was flagged as AI-edited by Google’s SynthID Detector, according to The Verge. Reddit users identified mismatched steps and near-identical details in the before-and-after images. The White House did not immediately comment, and the report noted Trump’s past use of AI-generated content.