White House Alters Protester Image, Sparks Outcry

In January 2026 the White House posted an AI-manipulated photo showing activist Nekima Levy Armstrong crying during a Minneapolis arrest, and later acknowledged altering the image to "emphasize the emotional impact." Independent digital-forensics tools and experts flagged inconsistencies, prompting condemnation from civil-rights groups, trending social backlash, potential lawsuits, and renewed scrutiny of the administration's AI Action Plan and governance practices.