A viral image shared on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, purports to show a recent mugshot of former President Donald Trump.

#Indicted. Over 80 times. And now indictments handed down in Georgia for a racketeering conspiracy to steal the 2020 election. This is the once and future nominee of the Republican Party for President of the United States. Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/waEpkscM9T

— Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) August 15, 2023

Verdict: False

A content detection scan using the website “Hive Moderation” reveals the image was created using artificial intelligence (AI).

Fact Check:

Trump is planning to surrender himself to the Fulton County jail Aug. 23 following a criminal indictment regarding his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the state, according to CNN. The bond for his release is expected to be $200,000, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The image, shared on X and viewed over one million times, purports to show a recent mugshot of Trump. “This is the once and future nominee of the Republican Party for President of the United States. Pathetic,” the image’s caption reads in part.

The claim is false, however. A content detection scan using the website “Hive Moderation” reveals the image is AI-generated. The scan also reveals the image was likely created using the program Midjourney.

Screenshot captured via Hive Moderation

Check Your Fact reviewed the image, and the combination of meaningless numbers and letters that appear behind Trump is a clue the image is AI-generated. Unlike humans, AI generators cannot comprehend what text symbols mean, how to produce text in different contexts, or how context impacts a text’s meaning, according to The Conversation.

Although Trump has not yet surrendered, he will likely have his mugshot taken when he is processed, Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“It doesn’t matter your status, we’ll have a mugshot ready for you,” Labat said. “Unless somebody tells me differently, we are following our normal practices,” he added.

Furthermore, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports featuring the purported mugshot of Trump shared via the viral X post. The former Republican President also has not commented on the purported mugshot via his TRUTH Social account. (RELATED: Can Brian Kemp Pardon Donald Trump?)

Check Your Fact has contacted Labat and a Trump spokesperson for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.