How An AI Enhanced Trump Photo Misled Millions
Viral Photo Sparks Health Speculation
Over the Labor Day weekend, a grainy photograph of former President Trump, captured by Getty Images photographer Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, became the epicenter of widespread online speculation regarding his health. The image, showing Trump leaving the White House for his golf course in Virginia, was seized upon by internet users already convinced he was experiencing a health crisis.
One X user, Christopher Webb, took the low-quality image and processed it with an AI upscaling tool. He then shared the "enhanced" version in a post that quickly amassed over 4.2 million views, questioning strange details that appeared on Trump's forehead and asking for an expert explanation.
The Problem with AI Enhancement
AI upscaling is a process that uses machine learning to enlarge an image's dimensions by intelligently guessing what the missing pixels should look like. While it can sometimes produce impressive results, the technology's effectiveness is highly dependent on the quality of the source image and the sophistication of the AI program. When fed a low-resolution, blurry photo, the AI is forced to invent details, often with bizarre and misleading outcomes.
In this case, the AI tool used by Webb created strange artifacts on Trump's face as it tried to construct a clearer image from poor data. As reported by France 24, the enhancement simply went wrong, deceiving millions of viewers.
How AI Upscaling Distorts Reality
Experts quickly pointed out the flaws in the enhanced image. BBC journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh explained the issue clearly: "What's happened here is that you zoomed in on Trump's face in what's already a low-resolution, grainy photo. You've then used AI to upscale that grainy image, which has resulted in AI distorting the photo." He advised observers to look beyond the face at the clear distortions of the "USA" text and flag on Trump's hat for proof of the AI's fabrication.
"Never mind the face, see what AI’s done to USA and the flag on his hat." - Shayan Sardarizadeh on X
Ari Kouts, an innovation and AI consultant, further clarified that because the original photo lacked detail, the AI tool had no choice but to "reinvent them." He emphasized the core problem with these tools: they must invent or recreate details that may or may not have been present in reality.
The Takeaway AI Images Are Not Reality
The incident became a powerful example of digital misinformation, prompting X's Community Notes system to add a disclaimer to the viral post. The note warned users that "AI-upscaled images are not trustworthy. AI commonly creates and distorts detail when ‘enhancing’ lower resolution source images."
Despite these dangers, AI image enhancement tools are becoming more common and accessible. Major software companies like Adobe have integrated features like Generative Upscale into popular products, allowing users to easily enlarge and clarify photos with AI. This case serves as a critical reminder that while powerful, these tools do not reveal truth—they construct a plausible version of it, which can be dangerously misleading.
