Fact Check: Did Trump post an AI image of himself in a military uniform on social media?
WASHINGTON, DC: As tensions between the United States and Iran continue, a photo began circulating on social media platforms showing an AI-generated image of President Donald Trump in an army uniform, claiming that he himself posted it. The photo and claim garnered criticism and generated speculation, with many calling for a fact-check.
Claim: Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself in a military uniform
An image of Trump in an Army uniform with multiple medals and stars has been going viral on various social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, collectively garnering millions of views as of this writing.
The image, generated using artificial intelligence, was shared with the claim that the president himself posted it on his official Truth Social handle, triggering criticism, with many accusing him of disrespecting the armed forces.
The photo garnered mixed reactions from online users, with many believing that Trump actually posted it, while others dismissed the claim as false, prompting a fact-check.
Fact Check: Trump made no such post
Although Trump has frequently posted AI images on his social media handles, the claim that he recently posted the viral photo of himself in a military uniform is false.
A search on his official Truth Social handle and commentary accounts that automatically archive all his social media posts revealed that no such post exists. Additional searches on his Facebook and X accounts also showed no such image.
If Trump had really posted such an image, it would not go unreported by prominent news media outlets, but a search on Google for the claim yielded no such news reports.
Trump calls Iran conflict 'small potatoes'
The claim surfaced after Trump, on Friday, September 4, described the prolonged conflict with Iran as “small potatoes,” despite acknowledging that 18 American service members have been killed, sparking backlash.
"In Vietnam we lost tens of thousands of people. In Afghanistan we lost a lot. Sleepy Joe Biden lost 13 just by standing at an airport," Trump said.
He further said that American forces are conducting fewer attacks after hitting Iran’s radar, aircraft, and other military equipment around the vital Strait of Hormuz, saying that the US has “very strongly” controlled the waterway and claimed ships and oil are moving through it.
CENTCOM has confirmed that the strikes hit Iranian air-defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities, and communications facilities.
