Trump faces backlash after sharing doctored image linking Kamala Harris to Diddy

Former President Donald Trump is once again at the center of controversy after sharing a digitally manipulated image on his Truth Social account, falsely suggesting Vice President Kamala Harris's involvement with rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs. The rapper is currently facing legal trouble, including charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.

The altered image was a modified version of a 2001 photograph that originally featured Harris with former talk show host Montel Williams and his daughter Ashley. In the doctored version, Williams' face was replaced with Combs', insinuating a connection between Harris and the artist. Trump's accompanying message falsely implied Harris's involvement in the disturbing allegations against Combs, including what prosecutors have referred to as “freak offs,” or prolonged sex acts involving victims.

This latest social media post from Trump follows a pattern of disinformation tactics he's been accused of using throughout the 2024 election cycle. Just weeks earlier, Trump shared AI-generated images of pop star Taylor Swift and her fans supposedly endorsing him, a move that sparked backlash among her supporters. Another manipulated image falsely depicted Harris addressing a crowd of communists at the Democratic National Convention. Both images have since been debunked as fake.

Although Trump's doctored Harris-Combs post was eventually deleted, it quickly backfired, as genuine photos of Trump and Combs resurfaced across social media platforms. These images, including clips from Trump’s 2012 appearance on Celebrity Apprentice where he called Combs a “good friend,” went viral, gaining millions of views. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel even highlighted the connection, pointing out the irony of Trump’s attempt to slander Harris while photos of his friendship with Combs circulated.