Fact Check: Is video showing Trump, Epstein at a social gathering with young girls real?

WASHINGTON, DC: In February, a clip circulated online allegedly showing President Donald Trump and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein at a social gathering with young girls. 

The video went viral following the recent release of millions of pages of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. But is there any truth to the viral video? Let us find out below.

Claim: Video shows Trump, Epstein at a social gathering with young girls

An X post, featuring a screenshot from the video, read, "#EpsteinFile reveals a horrifying truth that will send chills down anyone’s spine. Minors were subjected to unimaginable abuse and exploitation."

Despite these horrific crimes, some perpetrators still hold positions of power and fame, becoming presidents, prime ministers, or celebrities. #EpsteinFile doesn’t just expose the criminals; it also reminds society of its responsibility and the importance of truth," the caption added.

The clip spread across multiple platforms, including Facebook, X, YouTube, and Threads. 

Another X post's caption read, "Very creepy. The look on their faces. (Trump and Epstein)." A Threads user also shared the same viral clip.

More than 3 million additional pages of documents, more than 180,000 images, and over 2,000 videos were released by the Justice Department on January 30.

The materials came from various investigations, including Jeffrey Epstein's Florida and New York cases, Ghislaine Maxwell's prosecution, probes into Epstein's death, FBI investigations, and more.

Fact Check: False, video was created using AI

The claims in the online posts are false, as the viral video is fake and was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The clip was made by animating a genuine 1997 photograph of Trump and Epstein at a Victoria's Secret Angels party in New York City. The original photo shows Trump, Epstein, and Belgian model Ingrid Seynhaeve.

Moreover, AI tools were used to animate the photo, creating movement and facial expressions, and digitally insert the young girls who were never in the scene. 

TinEye reverse image search results showed a 2017 Reddit post titled "New photo surfaces of Trump with Epstein at Victoria's Secret lingerie party in 1997." 

The viral post featured what appeared to be a photograph of a printed page, and credited the image to photographer Marina Garnier.

Furthermore, several other images from the 1997 Victoria's Secret event featuring Trump were available through Getty Images. These images show both Trump and Seynhaeve wearing the same outfits as in the photo that appeared to have been used to generate the fake video.