An image shared by President Trump on Truth Social, featuring himself and President Xi at Joint Base Andrews, is now under scrutiny for being doctored, commonly referred to as the “trump xi doctored photo.” The contentious photo supposedly captures a moment during Xi’s arrival in Maryland on Wednesday.
In Trump’s edited version of the altered photograph, he appears saluting with a bomber flying overhead—a stark contrast to Getty Images‘ photograph of the same scene. In the original, Trump grimaces as the aircraft roars over, while President Xi maintains a neutral expression, a detail that Chinese media gloated about. Embed from Getty Images confirms this original depiction, along with additional reports from Reuters and the Associated Press.
Investigating the Image Manipulations
BBC Verify investigated the edited image and confirmed its modifications. The discrepancies are notable: Trump is shown wearing a single black glove, whereas other imagery from the event depicts him with a glove on each hand.
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A key figure standing behind Trump also raises questions. The actual attendee, chief of protocol Monica Crowley, is replaced by another woman in the edited image—a swap that journalist Aaron Rupar points out on X could resemble Natalie Harp, Trump’s aide.
Further inconsistencies in the modified photo include red markings on the Air China aircraft that vanish in Trump’s version, and differing hairstyles between the altered and original photos. BBC notes these omissions after comparing news agency images.
Henry Farid, co-founder of GetReal Security, suggests, “These are typical cosmetic edits used to polish images. Such evident alterations imply the likelihood of digital or AI manipulation, especially in a doctored photo.”
For insightful examples of AI manipulation in social media, check out how Instagram uses AI labels to combat misleading content.
Sources & Links
Source: petapixel.com
Frequently asked questions
What is controversial about the Trump and Xi image?
The image shared by Trump on Truth Social is under scrutiny for being doctored. The edited image shows Trump saluting with a bomber flying overhead, contrasting Getty Images’ original photograph where Trump grimaces as the aircraft roars over.
What are some discrepancies in the altered Trump and Xi photo?
Notable discrepancies include Trump wearing a single black glove instead of two, and the red markings on the Air China aircraft disappearing. Additionally, Monica Crowley, the chief of protocol, is replaced by another woman in the edited image.
What investigation looked into the photo’s alterations?
BBC Verify investigated the edited image and confirmed its modifications. They noted several inconsistencies after comparing the altered image with news agency photos.