The details
Reddit users noticed the problems first: the two images share almost the same angle, window reflections and protective cardboard, while the ‘restored’ column looks unusually smooth and its steps don’t match. Painters were photographed working on the White House in June, so a repaint may well have happened. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why it matters
This is a real-world test of AI watermarking: a hidden mark was enough to flag an edited image posted by a sitting president. It also shows the limits, because detection only works when the tool that made the image adds a watermark. Trust in official images still depends on clear disclosure.