Lead Stories is reporting that it has debunked several viral hoaxes and digitally altered images circulating online. It said a widely shared video claiming President Donald Trump unveiled a "Trump 2028" hat in the Oval Office was digitally altered. The fact-checking organization stated the original Fox News segment showed Trump revealing the Declaration of Independence, not a hat. Lead Stories noted the video included a watermark for a satirical political video website and that AI detection tools confirmed the footage was digitally manipulated.
Lead Stories also addressed a digitally edited image related to Pope Francis' funeral. It said the image, shared on social media, had been altered to change the color and tone of clothes worn by several dignitaries, including former President Joe Biden. Some observers had criticized President Trump for wearing a blue suit to the funeral, but Lead Stories confirmed the image was manipulated.
Additionally, Lead Stories reported that an image of Judge Hannah Dugan, purportedly crying while wearing an orange jumpsuit after an FBI arrest, is not real. It said the image appears to have been generated using AI tools, with two detection tools rating the chance of AI use at over 99%. Lead Stories also fact-checked a claim that it is not legal to own a child sex slave in California.