Some high-powered Republicans were fooled by phony AI image of the rescued US airman

[AverageOldGuy]

From The Guardian (you won't see or hear this in the US press).

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/06/republicans-ai-image-us-plane-member-rescue-iran

Republicans fooled by AI-generated image of US airman rescued in Iran
Fake image of crew member surrounded by smiling military members has been reshared more than 21,000 times on X

Republican politicians were hoaxed over the weekend by an image purporting to be a downed US warplane crew member rescued by military special forces in Iran on Saturday, igniting a call for a national “crash course in media literacy”.

Greg Abbott, the Texas governor, Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general and a US Senate candidate, and Mike Lawler, a New York representative, were all caught out for “liking” a fake picture of the airman, who has not been publicly identified.

. . .

“This is so awesome,” Abbott wrote to his 1.4 million X followers in a since-deleted post. Alluding to how the rescue operation began and ended, respectively, on Friday and Sunday of Easter weekend, the governor added: “God is sending a message to our enemies!”

Lawler also shared the picture, adding the caption: “God Bless America!”

[Traildogbob]

1. Did the

Image include trump with Stallone’s body wrapped in ammo and guns leading the Ops team?
Probably had Abbott Running up the mountain then carrying the airman down to safety too.

[Ocelot II]

2. It's so obviously AI.

It's here; have a look: https://archive.ph/Sg59p Too sharp, too staged, the flag looks like it was added and brightened for emphasis - the folds aren't right.

[Intractable]

3. The people are too smiley. The flag is a bit much.

[Ocelot II]

4. It screams "staged."

[Diamond_Dog]

5. Yes, it most certainly does!

[Intractable]

6. Screaming!