Does an image of President Joe Biden with solid black eyeballs wearing a black protective face mask support a rumor that he died? No, that's not true: The image is fake, with several flaws typical of AI-generated images, and Biden is alive as of this writing on July 23, 2024. A browser extension from Hive Moderation determined the image was 100 percent likely to have been made with an AI program.
The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on X by @MattWallace888 on July 22, 2024, with this caption:
RUMORS ARE CIRCULATING THAT JOE BIDEN IS DEAD 🚨
This is how the post appeared at the time of writing:
(Source: X screenshot taken on Tue Jul 23 15:32:11 2024 UTC)
This image is not authentic. Lead Stories used the Hive Moderation AI-generated content detection browser extension to test the image. The result (pictured below) came back with a score of 100 percent likely to be AI-generated.
(Source: Screenshot of Hive Extension reading of image on X taken on Tue Jul 23 15:32:11 2024 UTC)
The image has several characteristic flaws that are common problems in AI-generated images. In the Lead Stories composite image below, details of these discrepancies can be seen. A May 5, 2023, article in digitaltrends called one of these "hand salad." Starting in the upper left, there is an object that appears to be a fusion of a boom mic on a stand and a firearm, with what appears to be a trigger guard and rear sights, grasped by three disembodied fingers. The detail pictured below that shows the right hand hanging past the armrest seems to be missing a part of a finger and holding what appears to be another disembodied finger. The upholstery tacks in the chair are superficial markings in the image and do not accurately represent how tacks are used functionally and decoratively in leather furniture. Biden's eyes have been depicted as entirely black without any white sclera showing and the wrinkles on the temple area do not look like Biden's brow even when it is furrowed.
(Source: Lead Stories composite image with X screenshot taken on Tue Jul 23 16:40:35 2024 UTC)
Biden was seen boarding Air Force One in Dover, Delaware, on the afternoon of July 23, 2024, at the time of writing. He turns to face the camera (at 2:33 minutes in) and salutes before boarding the plane.
(Source: YouTube screenshot taken on Tue Jul 23 19:55:19 2024 UTC)
Also on July 23, 2024, the White House posted a link to a letter from the physician to the president, Dr. Kevin O'Connor. The body of the letter in the PDF document (pictured below) reads:
The President's symptoms have resolved. Over the course of his infection, he never manifested a fever, and his vital signs remained normal, to include pulse oximetry. His lungs remained clear.
BINAX rapid antigen testing is negative. He will continue to be monitored for any recurrence of illness
The President continues to perform all of his presidential duties.
As always, I will continue to keep your office updated with any changes in his condition or treatment plan.
(Source: whitehouse.gov screenshot taken on Tue Jul 23 19:35:27 2024 UTC)
Additional Lead Stories fact checks on claims about Joe Biden can be found here.
