Fact Check: Beware of fake photo showing Melania Trump kissing Epstein on cheek

Claims circulating online that U.S. First Lady Melania Trump kissed the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are false. The photo being shared is not authentic.

Between November and December 2025, users on social media platforms reposted an image suggesting Melania Trump kissed Epstein on the cheek. This resurfaced following President Donald Trump's approval of a bill to release Epstein-related case files.

Several posts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, and X included the image with captions questioning the First Lady's alleged involvement with Epstein. One example read: "What a travesty! Trying to say our First Lady had ANYTHING to do with this Epstein guy! ....never mind."

Analysis of the Image

Investigations revealed the photo was generated using artificial intelligence. Epsteins facial features, particularly his lips, do not match verified images of him. No credible news outlet ever reported the photo as genuine.

Tools designed to detect AI, such as the AI or Not website and the Deepfake-O-Meter from the University of Buffalo Media Forensics Lab, produced inconsistent results. Some falsely indicated the image might be real, highlighting the unreliability of current AI detection methods.

Origins of the Fake Image

Fact-checkers traced the image back to an August 2025 post on X (formerly Twitter), featuring a YouTube thumbnail with the title: "Trump GOES NUTS After Stephen Colbert AIRS Melania's UNSEEN Epstein Secrets On Live TV." As of December 2025, no widely viewed videos with that title or thumbnail existed, suggesting removal by the uploader or YouTube. A few low-view videos included the fake image or similar AI-generated versions of Melania Trump appearing to kiss Epstein.

Context

Previous fact-checks have confirmed the existence of genuine photos from 2000 showing Donald Trump and Melania Knauss posing with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. However, no verified images show Melania Trump engaging with Epstein in the manner suggested by the AI-generated photo.

In summary, the image circulating online is a fabricated AI creation and should not be considered evidence of any interaction between Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.

Author: Ethan Caldwell