Debunked: Photo of Trump unzipping Bill Clinton's pants is fake. Here's how we know

A photograph circulating online purportedly shows Donald Trump kneeling and unbuckling Bill Clintons trousers while Clinton sits in a leather armchair. The image quickly spread across social media platforms, including Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, and X, sparking speculation about its authenticity.

The image is claimed to date back to 2004 and is said to depict Trump kneeling before Clinton in a library-like setting. Only the back of the figure resembling Trump is visible, showing his distinctive hairstyle. The figure seated in the armchair, assumed to be Clinton, appears to be smiling. Some posts suggested the image was linked to the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein after Trump signed a law making the files public.

Claims also circulated that the photo references an email sent by Mark Epstein, asking his brother Jeffrey to check with Steve Bannon about whether "Putin has the photos of Trump blowing Bubba," with "Bubba" allegedly referring to Clinton. However, Mark Epstein reportedly denied this interpretation.

Several users applied AI-detection tools to the image, with mixed results. Some tools suggested the photo was not AI-generated, while others, including Hive Moderation, indicated it likely was. The image contains a SynthID watermark, a marker of content produced with Google AI tools, indicating that at least part of it was AI-generated. Reverse-image searches found no credible news sources confirming the photo or its origin.

Additional analysis reveals inconsistencies in the image: the carpet pattern is uneven, shadows are missing under the figures and furniture, and book titles in the background are illegible. The purported "Trump" figures hand also appears distorted. Historical context further undermines the photos credibility: in September 2004, Clinton underwent heart bypass surgery, and in late October 2004, he was actively campaigning for John Kerry, making the alleged meeting highly unlikely.

Previous misrepresented images and AI-generated videos involving Trump and Clinton have circulated online, showing a pattern of manipulation and false claims. Verified fact-checking sources, including Snopes, concluded that no authentic photograph exists of such an interaction between Trump and Clinton.

Experts caution that AI-detection tools are not perfect, and readers should approach results with skepticism. Ongoing investigations and forensic analysis are being conducted to clarify the images origins and confirm that it is a fabricated creation.

References:

• Snopes, "Real Photo of Trump and Bill Clinton Shared with False Claim about Groping," Nov 17, 2025.
• The New York Times, "Clinton Suffers Pains in Chest; Bypass Surgery Is Scheduled," Sept 4, 2004.
• AP News, "Trump Signs Bill to Release Jeffrey Epstein Case Files," Nov 20, 2025.
• Google DeepMind, "SynthID," 2025.
• NBC News, "Thousands Cheer Clinton at Philly Rally for Kerry," Oct 25, 2004.

Author: Sophia Brooks