Amid ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in Minnesota, a civil rights attorney’s recent arrest has ignited further controversy, compounded by the White House’s subsequent sharing of a manipulated image of the attorney on social media. Nekima Levy Armstrong was arrested during protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a shooting earlier this month, and the White House’s altered image-which Armstrong alleges depicts her in a false and damaging light-is now raising serious questions about the use of artificial intelligence in political messaging. The incident comes as reports emerge detailing a pattern of digitally altered images disseminated by the administration, totaling at least fourteen as the start of its second term.
A civil rights attorney was arrested during protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota, a state already experiencing unrest following a fatal shooting involving ICE agents earlier this month. The arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong has sparked further controversy after the White House shared a manipulated image of her on social media.
The initial arrest photo of Armstrong was first shared by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on X, formerly known as Twitter. Approximately 30 minutes later, the official White House account posted an altered version of the image on the same platform, labeling Armstrong as an “extreme left-wing agitator.” The manipulated photo dramatically depicts Armstrong appearing to weep, a portrayal she insists is inaccurate.
‘They Made Me Look Hysterical’
“I found the image to be grotesque,” Armstrong told the BBC. “They darkened my skin, exaggerated my facial features, and made me look hysterical. A false, misleading, and distorted image of me coming from the highest office in the land.”
Use the slider to see the difference between both photos:
Armstrong is facing charges from U.S. authorities of intimidating and obstructing individuals in the exercise of their constitutional rights – specifically, the freedom of religion. Experts previously told RTL Nieuws that the photo is part of a deliberate strategy to sow distrust and doubt.
‘Agitator Framing’
“Subtle adjustments – more tears, more desperation – make someone less sympathetic and fit into the ‘agitator’ frame,” said Scott Eldridge, an associate professor of media and journalism at the University of Groningen.
“That image couldn’t have been further from the truth,” Armstrong also told the British broadcaster. “Honestly, I felt disgusted. I was calm, composed, and collected throughout the entire event.”
In the days following the posting of the AI-generated image, Armstrong received a barrage of death threats. The BBC reported seeing numerous such messages. “I’ve never received so much hate in the days that followed,” she said, adding that the dissemination of a manipulated image intended to “humiliate and silence us” has a “chilling effect.”
Fourteen AI Images Since Second Term
This is not the first instance of the White House sharing AI-generated imagery. The official X account has shared at least fourteen AI-generated images since the start of the second term. The use of manipulated images by government accounts raises concerns about the spread of disinformation and its potential impact on public discourse.
Meanwhile, more than 700 federal immigration and border patrol agents have been recalled from Minneapolis and neighboring St. Paul, Minnesota, according to reports last week. CBS News reported that approximately 3,000 immigration agents were deployed in Minneapolis, five times the number of agents employed by the city itself, and had conducted over 3,000 arrests. Around 2,000 agents will remain in the area.
More about the AI images spread by the White House, see the video below:
The situation in Minnesota highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and the potential for political manipulation through the use of artificial intelligence. The development underscores the growing need for vigilance against disinformation campaigns and the importance of verifying information from official sources.
