Trump shares AI-generated photos

Donald Trump has posted a series of photographs on his social media platform, Truth Social, to support the expensive restoration work currently underway at the White House. These images, which show the historical columns of the building in a restored state, have been shared as evidence of the progress made by the renovation project.

AI detection tool identifies fakes

A Google tool called SynthID has confirmed that the photos Trump posted were created or edited using artificial intelligence. SynthID is designed to detect if an image has been altered or generated by AI, and it identified that the images were likely produced using OpenAI’s technology.

AI limitations and telltale signs

While SynthID can only detect AI-generated content if the AI used supports its watermarking technology, OpenAI does support it. Additionally, users on Reddit noticed several inconsistencies in the images, such as added steps on the stairs, unchanged shadows, and identical angles and reflections in the background.

Contradictory evidence from past photos

A photo published by CNN in July 2026 shows that the columns were still in their original state, with only the exterior layer being repainted. This suggests that the restoration work Trump claims to have completed was not actually done on the structure of the columns themselves.

Renovations face high costs and legal hurdles

The White House renovations, which include the demolition of the East Wing to make way for a ballroom and secure underground space, have ballooned in cost from an initial estimate of $200 million to between $600 million and $1 billion. The Supreme Court recently authorized the continuation of the work after it was initially blocked by a court decision.