ISTANBUL 

The White House posted a digitally altered image on the US social media platform X showing an arrested woman appearing to cry, prompting scrutiny after media analysis found the image had been modified.

The image, published Thursday, identified the woman as “far-left agitator Nekima Levy Armstrong” and accused her of orchestrating church riots in Minnesota. Armstrong was arrested and is being charged under federal law with conspiracy against rights.

Armstrong was arrested in connection with a demonstration Sunday that disrupted church services in St. Paul, Minnesota. Demonstrators alleged that one of the pastors, David Easterwood, was the acting field director of the St. Paul office of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier posted an image of Armstrong’s arrest on X. In her post, Noem said religious freedom is a cornerstone of the United States and argued that there is no First Amendment right to obstruct religious worship. She added that Armstrong was being charged with conspiracy against rights.

The image shared by Noem showed Armstrong handcuffed, dressed in black and appearing composed, as she was escorted by a law enforcement officer whose face was blurred.

More than 30 minutes later, the White House posted a second image of the same arrest in which Armstrong appeared to be crying. An analysis published Thursday by The Guardian found that the White House image had been digitally altered.

The paper overlaid the two images and found that the law enforcement officers in both photos aligned exactly, indicating they originated from the same photograph. The outlet also cited other similarities, including an unidentified person standing in the same position behind the arresting officer and the officer’s arm appearing behind Armstrong’s back in the same position in both images.

Asked whether the image had been digitally altered, the White House responded by sharing a post on X from Deputy Communications Director Kaelan Dorr.

“Yet again to the people who feel the need to reflexively defend perpetrators of heinous crimes in our country, I share with you this message: Enforcement of the law will continue. The memes will continue. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Dorr said.