The image is enough to make the blood stir at first glance.
A photograph of an adolescent Donald Trump from his chaotic and crazy days. Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted pedophile, rests his hand on Trump’s left shoulder in an almost intimate manner. And around them are young women who appear as though they ought to be doing their assignments rather than swooning over two elderly men.
However, after the internet sleuths of social media have completed their investigation, the image appears more like the first lesson in Photoshop 101 than a groundbreaking discovery.
In a world of deep fakes, artificial intelligence, and images that have been altered to demonstrate what the editor wants to show, a photograph can become a potent political instrument of distortion. Several Twitter users explained why it is always necessary to examine an image closely when it appears too good to be true — or too terrible.
A Twitter user named Catturd suggested that a convincing fake has all the typical bodily elements and maintains a human appearance. He referred to the girl on the left side of the frame, whose arm span a WNBA All-Star would covet, as well as the fact that Epstein’s height terminates where the majority of people begin growing legs.
“Dear left … If you’re going to photoshop a picture … try to give Epstein a pair of legs and don’t have a girl with a 30 foot arm,” he posted.
Dear left …
If you're going to photoshop a picture … try to give Epstein a pair of legs and don't have a girl with a 30 foot arm … 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/tBfQjZozjt
— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) May 9, 2023
Too many hands and the girls knees don’t match! 🤣🤣🤣 Epstein looking like Lt. Dan 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/luwt6Rjebm
— Kiss My Patriot A$$!! (@DebbieThomas88) May 9, 2023
Remember to include Epstein’s legs in your next deep fake photo of Trump.
— Don Hurley (@realDonHurley) May 9, 2023
Poster Jeffrey Myers suggested that we not be too harsh on machines until they perfect these skills.
This is most likely AI-generated.
The current AI versions, even the best, often struggle to place hands and feet correctly.
— Jeffery Myers:UNLEASHED (@jefferymyers) May 9, 2023
Another poster focused in on a particular portion of the photo and remarked on the strange appearance of far too many hands.
How many hands do you see? pic.twitter.com/yIYSjkQhE5
— Borzie Guccione (📸,🔮) (@BorzieGuccione) May 9, 2023
Trump stated, following Epstein’s 2019 arrest that led to his death in a detention cell, that he may have socially interacted with Epstein, but they were not companions.
“I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you,” Trump said then, according to The Washington Post.
Prior to approximately fifteen years ago, Trump severed ties with Epstein.
“The reason doesn’t make any difference, frankly,” Trump said, emphasizing that he had barred Epstein from his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.