TODAY’S PAPER | July 24, 2026 | EPAPER

Is Lara Trump's viral World Cup selfie really AI-generated? Here's what happened

Lara Trump admits AI altered her selfie after fans spot shocking photo glitch


Pop Culture & Art July 24, 2026 1 min read
Photo: Instagram

Lara Trump has admitted to using an AI-powered photo editing app after eagle-eyed social media users noticed strange details in a selfie she shared from the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The wife of Eric Trump posted a carousel of photos from the championship match at MetLife Stadium, where she attended alongside members of the Trump family. While most of the images drew little attention, one selfie featuring her daughter Carolina and sister-in-law Tiffany Trump quickly went viral after followers pointed out what appeared to be editing glitches.

Among the details that caught fans' attention were unusually shaped hands, altered fingernails and Carolina's seemingly elongated drinking straw, prompting speculation that artificial intelligence had been used to modify the image.

Responding to the online discussion, Lara addressed the photo on her Instagram Story with a lighthearted explanation.

Photo: Instagram

Photo: Instagram

"When AI takes over..." she wrote. "The app I used to fit this in the frame changed my nails and made Carolina's straw SOOO long," adding a laughing emoji.

Her admission sparked mixed reactions online. Some followers appreciated her honesty and laughed off the editing mishap, while others criticized the decision to alter a family photo, arguing that AI-powered editing had gone too far.

The viral selfie has reignited conversations about the growing use of AI editing tools on social media, where automated features designed to enhance or reframe images can sometimes unintentionally distort objects, faces or other details in a photo.

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