Fact Check: Does the image show a protester being removed from Trump's rally in Ohio?
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO: Ahead of President Donald Trump's midterm election rally in Ohio on October 12, an image circulated on social media platforms claiming a protester wearing a shirt that read “Release the Epstein Files” was removed from the rally. The claim has sparked backlash and speculation, prompting a fact-check.
Claim: Viral image shows protester being removed from Ohio rally
As the image began circulating online, users claimed that it authentically showed a protester wearing a shirt that read "Release the Epstein Files" at a Trump rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on Monday, October 12.
The viral image shows a crowd of angry people wearing red hats emblazoned with the words "Trump" and "USA" attacking a person wearing a black shirt that reads "Release the Epstein Files."
A user sharing the image wrote, “At the Ohio Trump rally, I saw a brave woman surrounded by male violence. One bastard punched her, pulled her hair, and dragged her to the ground."
"When police officers arrived, I thought they would help her and arrest the attacker. I was wrong. She was led away while Trump cheered on the thugs."
"As a German, this is unbelievable to me. A brave woman among raptors. Trump's followers are chilling and disgusting—just like the man himself. She is my hero today.”
Fact Check: The image is AI-generated
The image, however, is fake and AI-generated, as the SynthID detector found invisible watermarks in the media.
In a following post, the Threads user who shared the image also confirmed that it was AI-generated, writing, “I intentionally chose a symbolic graphic over sharing the horrific, raw footage of a woman being dragged and beaten by men at that rally."
Although the image was fake, the incident did take place during a rally for Republican candidates in Youngstown, Ohio.
Footage from the rally showed people grappling with and grabbing at one person who was wearing a shirt that read "Release the Epstein Files."
Law enforcement later separated the person from the scene.
Donald Trump takes a dig at the protester
As officers pulled the person from the crowd, Trump said, "He's a paid protester; they're all paid. They get paid by the lefties in order to destroy our country. They're scum."
"Oh, he's got to go on a diet. He's a fat guy. Wow," the president said, commenting on the protester's weight.
The apparent protester's shirt that called for the release of Epstein files was likely intended as criticism of the Trump administration.
