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White House shares doctored image portraying arrested church protester in tears
The White House posted an AI-altered image showing activist Nekima Levy Armstrong crying after her arrest at a Minnesota protest, sparking expert criticism and public backlash.
- On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the White House's official X account published an image showing Nekima Levy Armstrong sobbing during her arrest, accompanying announcements about arrests tied to a protest at Cities Church, St. Paul, Minnesota.
- Nekima Levy Armstrong led protesters into Cities Church on Sunday chanting `ICE out` and `Justice for Renee Good`, prompting U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi to direct arrests including Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen.
- Digital-Forensics checks found markers tied to Google AI tools, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted a similar photo 30 minutes earlier and Anna Bower questioned its authenticity.
- The altered post remains online, as White House spokespersons confirmed manipulation to CNN, users of X added a community note, and prosecutors warned uncertainty about edits could affect legal credibility.
- The administration's prior use of synthetic images suggests the White House communications accounts follow an AI-heavy approach, with communications scholars like Mike Ananny warning this may erode trust in official visuals.
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White House Posts Altered Arrest Photo of Minn. Protester
A White House social media post is drawing scrutiny after it used a digitally altered arrest photo of a Minnesota protester to make it appear she was crying. The original image, shared on X by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, shows civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong with a neutral...
·Miami, United States
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Thirty minutes after the original photo was published by the Internal Security Secretariat, the White House published a false picture of the lawyer crying. The official reply: "Memes will continue".
·Portugal
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Nekima Levy Armstrong appears the face covered with tears in the White House publication, while she had a stoic expression on the original cliché.
·Paris, France
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources111
Leaning Left42Leaning Right9Center29Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Left
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources lean Left
53% Left
L 53%
C 36%
11%
Factuality
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