Fact Check: Image Of Kamala Harris' August 8, 2024 Detroit Rally Was NOT Digitally Altered
Ed Payne 5-6 minutes 8/9/2024
Not Enhanced
Was an image of a Kamala Harris political rally in Detroit digitally altered to boost the size of the crowd? No, that's not true: The August 2024 campaign rally was widely covered by TV networks and other media, which showed a crowd of thousands of people, consistent with the image that was questioned. Lead Stories obtained the original digital image from the campaign's photographer, which shows the scene with greater clarity. AI detection software tools found little evidence to support the claim of digital manipulation.
The claim appeared in a post and video (archived here ) published on X, formerly Twitter, on August 8, 2024. It opened:
This is what the post looked like on X at the time of writing:
(Source: X screenshot taken on Fri Aug 9 21:45:53 2024 UTC)
Neither the post's caption nor the narrator's analysis provided independent evidence to support the claim that AI or computer-generated imagery had been used to make the gathering appear larger.
The photograph
The picture analyzed by the narrator was originally posted on social media (archived here ) by the Harris campaign. By zooming in on the image, he pointed out what he interpreted as irregularities and evidence of digital manipulation. A screenshot of his example, which appears about 28 seconds into the video, can be seen below:
(Source: X screenshot taken on Fri Aug 9 23:17:03 2024 UTC)
Original photograph
The Harris campaign provided the original digital image as taken by their official photographer to Lead Stories. The red box in the larger image on the right shows the section highlighted in the video. With its greater resolution, there is better clarity when you zoom in. The images of the people appear more natural than the lower-resolution photos online appear after being processed through the social media platform:
(Source: Harris campaign photo taken on Wed Aug 7 2024 UTC)
The rally
The Harris rally took place at Detroit's Metropolitan Airport on August 7, 2024, and was widely covered by national and local media (archived here ). In all cases, images and videos from the event show a large crowd. Here's a screenshot showing Harris' plane arriving at the hangar as shown live by Fox Business :
(Source: YouTube screenshot taken on Fri Aug 9 23:41:03 2024 UTC)
Here's a separate screenshot of the crowd as shown live by the Detroit Free Press , which also shows a densely packed crowd at the airport:
(Source: YouTube screenshot taken on Fri Aug 9 23:55:51 2024 UTC)
DeepFake-o-meter
The image in the social media post was not digitally manipulated or CGI'd. First, Lead Stories ran it through an online tool called the DeepFake-o-meter , hosted by The University at Buffalo's Media Forensic Lab , which focuses on "the forensic analysis of digital media." The following screenshot shows the University at Buffalo findings: that the image from the rally shows no evidence of being AI-generated:
(Source: Deepfake-o-meter screenshot taken on Fri Aug 9 23:58:26 2024 UTC)
Read more
Lead Stories has debunked other claims related to the 2024 presidential election, which can be read here .
Want to inform others about the accuracy of this story?
There are a lot of people with a 'public school education' who haven't fallen prey to Trump's big con so that can't be it. Maybe they're just drinking too much.
There are a lot of people with a 'public school education' who haven't fallen prey to Trump's big con so that can't be it. Maybe they're just drinking too much.
i am the victim of a 'public school education' and i pray i'm not falling prey to what demon Don does often spout, each and every day, and I drink too much, yet somehow, have battled and overcame the the Trump indoctrination....maybe i need to drink some more....
Simon Rosenberg @SimonWDC · 1h Donald Trump is deeply unwell and cannot be trusted with his Truth account let alone the Presidency. We are long past the time that this should have become a central issue in our domestic discourse.
In just the last couple of days Trump said that he knows Biden is going to demand to be the nominee at the Democratic convention, and now, that crowds at the Harris/Walz rallies this week were fake and did not exist.
We can be certain that over the next weeks Trump's mental condition will continue to deteriorate. With his rapid rate of decline it's likely he will be totally cognitively dysfunctional by November.
@EdKrassen Donald Trump's accusations that the Harris Campaign create photos of fake crowds is the most ridiculous, insane, demented thing I've heard in a while.
Below, I stitched together a video featuring 13 different videos and photographs of the exact same event. These photos and videos come from multiple MSM outlets and multiple independent photographers.
Every single person who isn't calling Trump out for his blatant misinformation and mental instability right now is part of the problem.
An appropriate theme song for Trump is 7empest by Tool:
Heat lighting flash, but don't blink Misleading Tranquility ruse You're gonna happen again That's what I think Follow the evidence Look it dead in the eye You are darkness Trying to lull us in, before the havoc begins Into a dubious state of serenity Acting all surprised when you're caught in the lie
We know better It's not unlike you It's not unlike you We know your nature
Blame it all on the bastards when you're blowing out Shame on you Shame on you, now No amount of wind could to begin to cover up your petulant stench and demeanor Calm as cookies and cream, so it seems We're not buying your dubious state of serenity Acting all surprised when you're caught in the lie
We know better It's not unlike you It's not unlike you We know your nature
Calm before the torrent comes Calm before the torrent comes Calm before the torrent comes Calm before the tempest comes to reign all over
Disputing intentions invites devastation A tempest must be true to its nature A tempest must be just that A tempest must be just that A tempest must be just that A tempest must be just that A tempest must be just that A tempest must be just that A tempest must be just that A tempest must be just that
Control, your delusion Insane and striking at random Victim of your certainty And therefore your doubt's not an option Blameless, the tempest will be just that So try as you may, feeble, your attempt to atone Your words to erase all the damage cannot
A tempest must be just that A tempest must be just that A tempest must be just that A tempest must be just that
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
leadstories.com /hoax-alert/2024/08/fact-check-image-of-kamala-harris-august-2024-detroit-rally-was-not-digitally-altered.html
Fact Check: Image Of Kamala Harris' August 8, 2024 Detroit Rally Was NOT Digitally Altered
Ed Payne 5-6 minutes 8/9/2024
Was an image of a Kamala Harris political rally in Detroit digitally altered to boost the size of the crowd? No, that's not true: The August 2024 campaign rally was widely covered by TV networks and other media, which showed a crowd of thousands of people, consistent with the image that was questioned. Lead Stories obtained the original digital image from the campaign's photographer, which shows the scene with greater clarity. AI detection software tools found little evidence to support the claim of digital manipulation.
The claim appeared in a post and video (archived here ) published on X, formerly Twitter, on August 8, 2024. It opened:
This is what the post looked like on X at the time of writing:
(Source: X screenshot taken on Fri Aug 9 21:45:53 2024 UTC)
Neither the post's caption nor the narrator's analysis provided independent evidence to support the claim that AI or computer-generated imagery had been used to make the gathering appear larger.
The photograph
The picture analyzed by the narrator was originally posted on social media (archived here ) by the Harris campaign. By zooming in on the image, he pointed out what he interpreted as irregularities and evidence of digital manipulation. A screenshot of his example, which appears about 28 seconds into the video, can be seen below:
(Source: X screenshot taken on Fri Aug 9 23:17:03 2024 UTC)
Original photograph
The Harris campaign provided the original digital image as taken by their official photographer to Lead Stories. The red box in the larger image on the right shows the section highlighted in the video. With its greater resolution, there is better clarity when you zoom in. The images of the people appear more natural than the lower-resolution photos online appear after being processed through the social media platform:
(Source: Harris campaign photo taken on Wed Aug 7 2024 UTC)
The rally
The Harris rally took place at Detroit's Metropolitan Airport on August 7, 2024, and was widely covered by national and local media (archived here ). In all cases, images and videos from the event show a large crowd. Here's a screenshot showing Harris' plane arriving at the hangar as shown live by Fox Business :
(Source: YouTube screenshot taken on Fri Aug 9 23:41:03 2024 UTC)
Here's a separate screenshot of the crowd as shown live by the Detroit Free Press , which also shows a densely packed crowd at the airport:
(Source: YouTube screenshot taken on Fri Aug 9 23:55:51 2024 UTC)
DeepFake-o-meter
The image in the social media post was not digitally manipulated or CGI'd. First, Lead Stories ran it through an online tool called the DeepFake-o-meter , hosted by The University at Buffalo's Media Forensic Lab , which focuses on "the forensic analysis of digital media." The following screenshot shows the University at Buffalo findings: that the image from the rally shows no evidence of being AI-generated:
(Source: Deepfake-o-meter screenshot taken on Fri Aug 9 23:58:26 2024 UTC)
Read more
Lead Stories has debunked other claims related to the 2024 presidential election, which can be read here .
Want to inform others about the accuracy of this story?
Click this link to copy it to your clipboard
Donald Trump did not "re-truth" someone else's lie, he phrased his own lie.
Yet we will hear he is not a constant liar.
and it is going to get worse.
Trump has gone way past the point of mere delusion.
Who could be so blind as to not recognize that this guy will say anything if he thinks it will help him? He must think his supporters are idiots.
Sadly, in many instances, he is correct. Have you talked to some of them? You can tell by reading many of their on-line comments, too.
Happy to be of service.
Victims of their public school education.
As stated:
Thank you for helping to prove my point.
[✘]
There are a lot of people with a 'public school education' who haven't fallen prey to Trump's big con so that can't be it. Maybe they're just drinking too much.
i am the victim of a 'public school education' and i pray i'm not falling prey to what demon Don does often spout, each and every day, and I drink too much, yet somehow, have battled and overcame the the Trump indoctrination....maybe i need to drink some more....
Well....Many are.
Can an idiot be despicable, or does their IQ challenges give a despicable pass.
Panic at River City (Mar a Lago)
Simon Rosenberg
@SimonWDC
·
1h
Donald Trump is deeply unwell and cannot be trusted with his Truth account let alone the Presidency. We are long past the time that this should have become a central issue in our domestic discourse.
George Conway
@gtconway3d
·
3m
You may think it impossible, but Trump’s mental state is going to get worse still.
When he sees the reaction to his delusional post, he’s going to become even more delusional.
He has crossed the psychological equivalent of the event horizon of a black hole.
In just the last couple of days Trump said that he knows Biden is going to demand to be the nominee at the Democratic convention, and now, that crowds at the Harris/Walz rallies this week were fake and did not exist.
We can be certain that over the next weeks Trump's mental condition will continue to deteriorate. With his rapid rate of decline it's likely he will be totally cognitively dysfunctional by November.
Yet MAGA will vote for him anyway.
Undoubtably, many people vote to express their emotional or ideological feelings. They use their intuition and passion, voting from the gut.
Kamala has picked up on that and is campaigning more like Trump. No or few press conferences, no position papers or policy details.
This is very different from Clinton and Biden’s campaigns. Dems seem to like the same as Trump supporters.
Trump is extremely erratic mentally, Harris is not. Not surprised you want to conflate them though.
@EdKrassen
Donald Trump's accusations that the Harris Campaign create photos of fake crowds is the most ridiculous, insane, demented thing I've heard in a while.
Below, I stitched together a video featuring 13 different videos and photographs of the exact same event. These photos and videos come from multiple MSM outlets and multiple independent photographers.
Every single person who isn't calling Trump out for his blatant misinformation and mental instability right now is part of the problem.
How about you? Are you part of the problem?
Are you going to keep disparaging Harris instead of training your attention on Trump?
I conflated nothing, both are campaigning on feelings bod ones or good ones, not policy.
Good, good vibrations
so what? does that make them equally fit for office? MAGA defenders or "explainers" like yourself are doing this nation no favors.
So I observed what motivates many voters and that so far, Kamala was like Trump, trying to appeal more to emotion than policy details.
You know better, no need for rhetorical questions.
My comment wasn’t in defense of anyone. I’m sorry that my observations make you so angry.
Maybe he'll be reduced to a drooling, ranting mess that nobody can handle
Drooling, ranting, carpet chewing, foaming at the mouth. We can expect it.
An appropriate theme song for Trump is 7empest by Tool:
There is only one "conservative" that came on this seed , and that is the one that is sarcastic about almost everything.
Not one comment defending Trump, from any of his supporters here.
I assume all of you are saying Trump should drop out of the race today.
Wonder what strings they had to pull to get to have people on the tarmac that close to her entourage?