The Trump administration faced criticism on Thursday for misrepresenting the arrest of a well-known civil rights attorney involved in an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church. The White House shared an image of Nekima Levy Armstrong appearing distressed and in tears with her hands restrained, but in reality, the original image depicted her with a neutral expression. The altered image was created to enhance the drama of the moment.
Subtle similarities between the two images, such as the position of the badge worn by the person behind Levy Armstrong and the lighting in the background, indicate that the images were not simply taken at different times. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Levy Armstrong’s arrest in a post, followed by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sharing the unaltered photo of Levy Armstrong.
Afterward, the White House posted the manipulated image, which was swiftly debunked by readers who shared the original photo. Levy Armstrong’s attorney, Jordan Kushner, disputed the administration’s portrayal, stating that videos and photos released by the White House were doctored to show her crying, despite her calm demeanor during the arrest.
Kushner highlighted that a video captured by Levy Armstrong’s husband contradicts the administration’s narrative and would be made public soon. Responding to the backlash, White House Deputy Communications Director Kaelan Dorr reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to law enforcement amid mounting scrutiny over the misleading image.
Levy Armstrong, along with two others, was arrested following a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official serves as a pastor. The demonstration, which disrupted services with chants demanding justice for Renee Good, a recent victim of police violence, prompted a civil rights investigation by the Justice Department.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, a magistrate judge rejected attempts by federal prosecutors to charge former CNN anchor Don Lemon in connection with the protest at the church. Lemon maintained that he was present as a journalist, not a protester, and his legal team emphasized that his reporting activities were protected by the First Amendment. Neither the White House nor Homeland Security provided immediate comments in response to the situation.