Overview
- Snopes and PolitiFact report that short clips posted on Reddit, TikTok and the Internet Archive on Nov. 16–17 were created by animating an authentic photo from the 2000 U.S. Open.
- White House photographer William Vasta, who shot the original image, says no inappropriate contact occurred and notes there was no video of the moment.
- An archivist at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library verified the photo’s provenance, including the date, location and photographer.
- AI expert Manjeet Rege identified hallmarks of image‑to‑video generation, and the Attestiv forensic tool returned a near‑100% AI suspicion score.
- The clips gained traction as newly released Epstein documents fueled online speculation, posts drew high engagement before moderator removals, and the creator remains unidentified.