Internet weighs in as Karine Jean-Pierre affirms White House doesn't digitally alter Biden's photos

WASHINGTON, DC: In a recent press conference at the White House, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre fielded unexpected questions regarding the digital alteration of photographs of President Biden and other administration officials.

The exchange, marked by moments of levity, shed light on growing concerns surrounding image manipulation and its implications.

Princess Kate's controversy sparks inquiry

The inquiry arose amidst a backdrop of controversy sparked by the revelation that Princess Kate digitally altered a photograph posted on social media.

“Does the White House ever digitally alter photos of the president, vice president, first lady, or second gentleman before they’re released?” asked CBS News’s Ed O’Keefe.

Jean-Pierre, clearly taken aback by the question, firmly refuted any suggestion of such activity within the White House. "Digitally altered?" she exclaimed with disbelief, stating, "To my knowledge, absolutely not. I would unequivocally deny it."

The unexpected nature of the question prompted laughter among reporters in attendance, while Jean-Pierre addressed the matter.

"Why would we digitally alter photos?" she queried, dismissing any parallels drawn to the recent controversy involving the British monarchy.

“Why does the monarch have to do anything with us? No, that is not something that we do here,” Jean-Pierre said.

The press secretary's assertion that the White House does not engage in such practices comes amidst heightened scrutiny surrounding the authenticity of public figures' images.

The controversy surrounding image manipulation is not confined to royal circles. Recent reports alleging the digital alteration of President Biden's photos have fueled speculation and debate.

In an election likely to pit an 81-year-old incumbent against a 78-year-old challenger in former President Donald Trump, concerns over age and vigor have emerged as central themes.

Measures to protect President Biden's leadership are backed by nearly half of all Democrats. Furthermore, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll, 73% of registered voters either strongly or somewhat agree that Biden is too old to effectively serve as president.

Against this backdrop, the emergence of digitally altered images further complicates the discourse surrounding President Biden's presidency.

Instances of image manipulation, purportedly aimed at enhancing the president's appearance, have reignited concerns over transparency in politics.

These instances include comparisons between images shared by Dem activist Chris Jackson and originals of President Biden vacationing in Delaware.

The images, distributed by the Getty agency, depicted a president with a paler complexion and loose skin around his mouth, contrasting with the tight, tanned appearance of the face that became widely circulated and was retweeted by Biden allies like Ron Klain, his former chief of staff.

Other instances include images taken from a video shared by a Bloomberg journalist of Biden enjoying a bike ride, where wrinkles were smoothed and tan deepened, as well as a picture showing Biden shaking hands with a military officer after stepping off Air Force One, with signs of aging gently airbrushed and his color darkened.

Additionally, another image showed Biden wearing a baseball cap with the logo of a foundation named for his late son Beau, with his smile enhanced, per the Daily Mail.

Social media reactions after Jean-Pierre's explanations 

Social media was inundated with reactions after Jean-Pierre assured reporters that the administration does not digitally alter photographs.

"Ohh really?" one posted on X.

"This cannot possibly be true," another wrote.

"They don’t alter photos, they just get the FBI to cover them up by manipulating social media companies," someone else alleged.

"Why would she say that.... now I question ANY image of Joe Brandon walking upright on his own," another chimed in.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.