Fake Photo Shows Biden In MAGA Hat
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A viral image circulating on Instagram falsely depicts President Joe Biden wearing a MAGA hat during a recent Oval Office meeting with President-elect Trump. The digitally manipulated photograph shows Biden, dressed in a suit and red tie, smiling alongside Trump while sporting the iconic red cap.
The attention-grabbing post, which garnered over 8,000 likes, sparked speculation about whether Trump had gifted Biden a signed MAGA hat during their meeting. The caption accompanying the image playfully suggested this possibility, using hashtags like #comeonman.
BREAKING: Joe Biden just put on a MAGA hat in support of President Trump. pic.twitter.com/HV4CCi8YMA
— The General (@GeneralMCNews) September 11, 2024
However, advanced technological analysis has definitively proven the image’s fraudulent nature. Using Hive Moderation’s content detection system, experts determined the photo was AI-generated with 99.2% certainty. Close examination reveals telling inconsistencies, particularly in the American flag depicted on Biden’s supposed MAGA hat, which displays an incorrect number of stripes.
While Biden and Trump did meet Wednesday in the Oval Office to discuss the transition of power, with Biden expressing hopes for a “smooth transition” according to The Associated Press, no credible news sources have reported any exchange of MAGA merchandise.
Dr. Walter Scheirer, a media forensics and AI expert at the University of Notre Dame, confirmed the image’s artificial origins in an email to Check Your Fact, stating: “This image is probably the output of a generative AI system. The MAGA hat Biden is wearing is of poor quality relative to the rest of the image. Importantly, the flag on the side of the hat does not show the correct number of stripes for an American flag.”
Joe Biden is still rocking the MAGA hat.
Notice how Jill is no longer with him.
Who got sick of who?pic.twitter.com/EaSEXOzEY1
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) September 13, 2024
Lead Stories has also debunked the image, and neither political figure has addressed the viral photo’s circulation. The fabricated image joins a growing collection of AI-generated content requiring careful verification in today’s digital landscape.