A holiday greeting shared by a prominent political figure has sparked controversy and accusations of inauthenticity online. The official posted a digitally altered image on social media, transforming a well-known photograph of himself consuming fast food on a private aircraft into a scene depicting a traditional Thanksgiving feast.
The original picture, which circulated widely last year, showed the individual alongside several other high-profile personalities. In the new, edited version, items like burgers and fries were replaced with a turkey, side dishes, and pie.
The post was met with immediate skepticism and criticism from followers. Many users pointed out the obvious digital manipulation, questioning the necessity of sharing fabricated content. “Is anything authentic anymore?” one comment read. The criticism extended to the social media platform’s algorithms, with some users chastising an automated news feature for highlighting the altered image as top news. The feature’s automated response acknowledged the error, stating the image appeared to be AI-generated and promising improved filtering.
Among the critics was a figure known for conspiracy theories and previous involvement in a major political disturbance, who simply commented, “Everything is fake.”
The incident has reignited discussions about the official’s past public statements, wherein he has been critical of the nutritional value of the very fast food featured in the original photograph. The juxtaposition of those comments with the newly fabricated image led to further sarcastic remarks from online commentators.
The episode underscores the growing public scrutiny over the use of artificial intelligence to create and disseminate misleading imagery, even in seemingly innocuous contexts like holiday greetings.
