A Minnesota civil rights activist has released her own video of her arrest, after the White House posted a doctored image online depicting her being apprehended. Nekima Levy Armstrong, who was charged for her role in an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a church, says the Trump administration has used artificial intelligence to manipulate footage of her detention.
The White House had shared a picture on its X social media page showing Levy Armstrong with her hands behind her back as she was escorted by a blurred figure wearing a badge. The caption claimed she was an “arrested far-left agitator” who had orchestrated “church riots” in Minnesota. However, Levy Armstrong’s own video footage paints a very different picture.
The seven-minute clip, filmed by her husband Marques Armstrong, shows federal agents approaching to arrest her. Throughout the encounter, Levy Armstrong remains calm and composed, repeatedly asking the officers to “treat me with dignity and respect.” At no point does she appear to be crying, as the White House’s altered image suggested.
In an audio message shared with The Associated Press, Levy Armstrong said the video exposes the Trump administration’s use of AI to manipulate images of her arrest. “We are being politically persecuted for speaking out against authoritarianism, fascism and the tyranny of the Trump administration,” she said.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has not yet responded to a request for comment. Levy Armstrong was arrested alongside at least two others on Thursday for disrupting a church service where an ICE official also serves as a pastor.
This incident highlights the troubling trend of government officials spreading misinformation and doctored media to discredit their critics. As a journalist, it is crucial that I remain objective and factual in my reporting, while also holding those in power accountable for their actions. The public deserves the truth, not politically motivated propaganda.