An AI-generated image showing India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi kneeling before United States President Donald Trump is circulating on social media as a real image.
An analysis by BOOM reveals that the image is not genuine but generated by artificial intelligence. This was indicated by a "Meta AI" watermark on the image, along with further confirmation by an AI image detection tool.
What Sparked the Controversy
The image went viral after Modi's May 22, 2025 rally in Bikaner, where he claimed "warm vermilion" (garam sindoor) flows through his veins—referring to his involvement in Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strike on Pakistan following the Pahalgam tourist attack.
The ensuing India-Pakistan conflict ended in a ceasefire on May 10, first announced by Trump on social media, who also claimed to have helped broker it. Modi’s critics are sharing the image (archived here and here) to challenge his Bikaner remarks in this context.
Evidence of AI Fabrication
Meta AI Watermark: A clear indicator that the image was generated using Meta's AI tools.
Visual Anomalies: Pixelation around the hands and faces, and unnatural blending of Modi's glasses into his face, suggest digital fabrication.
AI Detection Tools: Analysis using "Was It AI" confirmed a high likelihood of the image being AI-generated.