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By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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The White House seemingly confirmed on Thursday that its official account on X had used a digitally altered image of Nekima Levy Armstrong, a woman arrested in Minnesota for her role in a demonstration at the Cities Church in St. Paul over the weekend.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Thursday evening for comment.
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Why It Matters
The White House and Trump administration officials have regularly posted artificial intelligence-generated images and video to their social media accounts, such as the video of President Donald Trump dropping brown sludge on "No Kings" protesters while piloting a fighter jet.
This occurs as critics continue to raise the alarm over altered images and video due to concerns that such media can be used to skew public perception and understanding of sensitive topics.
And tensions in Minnesota remain high following the deadly shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on January 7. Armstrong was part of a demonstration in which dozens of protesters entered the Cities Church during a service on Sunday, where David Easterwood serves as pastor. He purportedly also leads an ICE field office in St. Paul.
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What To Know
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem at 10:21 a.m. ET Thursday posted a photo of Armstrong's arrest, which showed her with a calm look on her face as she's escorted by a law enforcement officer, whose face is blurred out.
Noem wrote that Armstrong played a "key role in orchestrating the Church Riots" in St. Paul, adding that "religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States - there is no first amendment right to obstruct someone from practicing their religion."
But roughly 30 minutes later, the White House posted a photo of Armstrong—with seemingly the same officer, background and other details, but with Armstrong now crying and distressed. The latter image, which X community notes labeled "digitally altered," was reposted by Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance.
When asked for comment, outlets such as CBS News and The Guardian reported that the White House redirected them to a post by White House Deputy Communications Director Kaelon Dorr, who had also reposted the image and wrote: "YET AGAIN to the people who feel the need to reflexively defend perpetrators of heinous crimes in our country I share with you this message: Enforcement of the law will continue. The memes will continue. Thank you for your attention to this matter."
The White House did not respond to a Newsweek request for comment by time of publication.
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What People Are Saying
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on X, in part: "So far, we have arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong, who allegedly played a key role in organizing the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. We will share more updates as they become available. Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP."
Noem, on X: "Homeland Security Investigators and FBI agents arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong who played a key role in orchestrating the Church Riots in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is being charged with a federal crime under 18 USC 241. Religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States - there is no first amendment right to obstruct someone from practicing their religion."
Armstrong, speaking Tuesday: “You cannot lead a congregation while directing an agency whose actions have cost lives and inflicted fear in our communities. When officials protect armed agents, repeatedly refuse meaningful investigation into killings like Renee Good’s, and signal they may pursue peaceful protesters and journalists, that is not justice—it is intimidation.”
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