Trump shares AI-generated image of golden eagle on White House balcony, sparking online debate

Truth or Fake - Trump mocked for posting 'tacky' AI golden eagle on White House balcony

Trump posted the image to Truth Social late Monday, before it was quickly reshared by the White House's official social media accounts. The image shows a large gold eagle with its wings spread across the Truman Balcony, flanked by a Stars and Stripes shield, alongside the caption: "A golden gift to the White House for its 250th birthday year!" The post comes as Trump continues unveiling a series of ambitious plans tied to the 250th anniversary of American independence on the 4th of July, including his commemorative passports and his controversial plans to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. However, there is no evidence the golden eagle actually exists, and it appears to have been generated using artificial intelligence. Google's SynthID detector identified its digital watermark embedded in the picture, suggesting that all or part of the image was created with Google's AI tools. Further casting doubt on its authenticity, freelance photographer Andrew Lyden shared photographs of the Truman Balcony on X that he said were taken around 9:30 p.m. Monday, after Trump's post was published. The balcony appears unchanged, with no golden eagle visible. Online reaction to the image was swift and deeply divided. Supporters praised the concept as a patriotic display, describing it as a "shining example of freedom and class" and a "powerful symbol of American strength." Critics, however, questioned several inaccuracies and why Trump would share the image. Some claimed the shield featured 11 stars instead of the 13 traditionally associated with the original colonies, arguing the design was historically inaccurate. Others pointed out that the White House itself is not 250 years old. Construction began in 1792 -16 years after the Declaration of Independence -and the building was completed in 1800. The strongest reaction came from users who compared the oversized golden eagle to Nazi-era eagle imagery, accusing Trump of invoking fascist symbolism. Others rejected those comparisons, noting that the bald eagle has served as an official symbol of the United States for more than two centuries. Many commenters simply ridiculed the design as "tacky" or "cheap," and similar to Trump's affinity for gold, based on his many golden touches and redesigns in the White House. Vedika Bahl goes through it in Truth or Fake.

Trump shares AI-generated image of golden eagle mounted on White House

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump raised eyebrows with what initially seemed like his latest addition to the White House - a giant golden eagle mounted on the Truman Balcony. But an image of the eagle that Trump posted June 29 on Truth Social appears to be generated by AI and is not an authentic photograph. The image shared by Trump displays a golden eagle, spanning several feet in width, with its wings spread to mimic the U.S. seal, attached to the railing of the mansion's south balcony. It features an American crest with 11 stripes and 11 stars, two fewer than the 13 stripes that historically recognize the original colonies. Trump's message suggests that the ornament is intended to commemorate the White House as Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding. "A Golden Gift to the White House for its 250th Birthday Year!" Trump wrote in the post. However, as CNN first reported, the image's metadata suggests it was created by Google's AI tools. In addition, the Truman Balcony under Trump includes patio furniture and plants that don't appear in the AI-generated image. Andrew Leyden, a freelance photographer, posted photos he took of the White House at 9:27 p.m. ET Monday ‒ about an hour after Trump posted his image ‒ that showed no changes to the Truman Balcony, and no golden eagle. The White House did not respond to questions from USA TODAY about the origins of the image. Meanwhile, Trump's "birthday" caption included an error. Although the U.S. was founded 250 years ago in 1776, construction on the White House did not begin until 1792. It was completed in 1800, with President John Adams and wife Abigail Adams becoming its first occupants. Trump frequently posts AI-generated images on his social media accounts, but a golden eagle affixed to the White House didn't seem so farfetched. Trump has as well-known fondness for gold. In his second term, the president overhauled the Oval Office with gold embroidery, picture frames and decorations. That includes an eagle statue painted in gold placed behind the Resolute Desk. Trump has also engineered several significant changes to the White House grounds, including the demolition of the mansion's East Wing, ongoing construction of a massive ballroom, the installation of two 88-foot-tall poles with giant American flags, turning the Rose Garden into a patio, and the installation of statues of Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton. Reach Joey Garrison @joey garrison.