Former President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself on social media on Thursday after fake images of him being arrested went viral on Twitter earlier in the week.
On his Truth Social website, the former president posted an image of himself praying on one knee that appeared generated by artificial intelligence.
The image was contained within a screenshot of an Instagram post by TV personality Siggy Flicker, who wrote, “Pray for this man. Pray for his family. Pray for this country. Pray for the world.” Flicker also posted the image on Twitter.
READ MORE: Trump wants to be handcuffed if charged, he says: Report
Flicker did not say where the image came from, but it contains imperfections that are common in AI-generated images. An online AI image detector told American Military News with 70 percent confidence that the image on Twitter was made by an AI.
The image appeared online after Trump predicted without evidence over the weekend that he would be arrested on Tuesday. He made that forecast as news reports were indicating a Manhattan grand jury could vote soon on whether to criminally charge Trump, reportedly over alleged 2016 hush money payments.
READ MORE: Trump says he ‘will be arrested on Tuesday’ as Manhattan DA makes decision on charges
That indictment vote has not yet come this week. In the meantime, AI-generated photos of Trump being arrested, tried in court, and sentenced to prison went viral on Twitter.
The person who generated those images – Eliot Higgins, founder of investigative journalism group Bellingcat – said the platform he created them with, Midjourney, banned him from using it after they went viral.
Other images of longtime public health official Anthony Fauci being arrested and having his mugshot taken were also posted on Twitter this week by conservative commentator Jack Posobiec.
