Is a photo that shows Ursula von der Leyen with Jeffrey Epstein real? No, that's not true: The OpenAI Verify tool detected a SynthID watermark in the image, indicating it was generated using OpenAI tools. The case and document numbers visible on the image do not match any records published in the Department of Justice Epstein files.
The claim appeared in a post (archived here) by the @SmolfSmolf7 account on X on Sept. 2, 2026. It read:
Today's world leaders are all of this ilk--Satanists and child traffickers:
The Epstein Files.
Case No.: C-2012-0781
Doc. No.: D-2012-15427
According to emails and witness testimony, Ursula von der Leyen is
mentioned repeatedly in the newly released documents and evidence.
She was previously known for her work involving children.
Do you know what that implies?
This is what the post looked like on X at the time of writing:
(Image source: post by @SmolfSmolf7 on X.)
The image of von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Epstein was generated with artificial intelligence.
Lead Stories uploaded the images to OpenAI's Verify tool. The Verify tool detected OpenAI's own watermark (pictured below).
(Image source: OpenAI.)
The image displays case numbers apparently intended to suggest the photo is from the official Epstein files. Lead Stories searched the U.S. Department of Justice Epstein files and did not find any matching the numbers on the photo. This is a screenshot of the DOJ Epstein files website at the time of writing:
(Image source: DOJ website.)
This is another screenshot of the DOJ Epstein files website at the time of writing:
(Image source: DOJ website.)
The image of von der Leyen and Epstein appears to have originated on Facebook account @RalfJKohl (archived here) and is labeled AI content. This is a screenshot of the post on Facebook showing "AI content," at the time of writing:
(Image source: post by @RalfJKohl on Facebook.)
The Spanish fact-checking outlet Maldita.es previously debunked this claim.
