Overview

• The image was shot by photojournalist Jim Watson for AFP during a Cabinet Room session on Oct. 9 and was widely reproduced via Getty.
• In tighter crops, raised elements of the golden eagle behind the president resemble “horns,” which outlets report is a trick of angle and lighting.
• A widely shared post by Democratic strategist Keith Edwards labeled the image “devil horns” and drew roughly 900,000 views on X, accelerating its spread.
• News sites published both full and cropped frames, underscoring how syndication and editing choices can shift how a picture is interpreted.
• The photograph was taken as Trump discussed a proposed Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal that he touted, with reports noting plans for a Middle East trip and a possible ceremony in Egypt.