Fact Check: Image of Trump, Epstein and Beyoncé on private jet is fake. Here's how we know
Claim:
An image authentically shows U.S. President Donald Trump, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and singer Beyoncé together aboard a private jet.
Rating:
In late October and early November, a photo circulated on social media supposedly showing U.S. President Donald Trump, late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and singer Beyoncé aboard a private jet. The image shows Trump and Epstein sitting shirtless next to each other, with Beyoncé standing behind them.
"The Epstein files have leaked again !! As Jeffrey Epstein, Trump and Beyonce are all seen chilling on board," one X post ( archived ) captioned the image.
(X user @TomthunkitsMind)
The image spread primarily on X and Facebook .
In short, the photograph wasn't real. We didn't find it in any reputable news outlets and AI-detection tools indicated it was artificially generated. Google Gemini detected a watermark showing that the image was created or edited using Google AI. As such, we have rated the image fake.
How we know the image is fake
First, we didn't find the image in news outlets or any other credible sources — it spread solely on social media. If it were real, it would likely have been widely reported by news organizations. Another sign that the image was fake was Trump's physical appearance, as he looked much older than he did when Epstein was still alive.
Moreover, an analysis using Hive Moderation , an AI-detection tool, determined with 99.8% confidence that the image was "likely to be AI-generated."
(X user @TomthunkitsMind, Hive Moderation)
We also ran the image through Google Gemini's SynthID check , a tool that scans for watermarks embedded by artificial intelligence software. That scan detected a SynthID watermark and concluded, "this image contains a SynthID watermark, which indicates that it was generated or edited with Google AI."
(Google Gemini)
Readers who want to check whether an image contains a SynthID watermark can do so by uploading the photo to Google Gemini and asking, "Does this image have a SynthID watermark?" However, the absence of a SynthID watermark does't automatically mean an image is authentic, as it could have been created using other AI tools.
It's unclear who created the image, but it has circulated online at least since Oct. 26 .
Some social media users sharing the image suggested Beyoncé was involved in Epstein's crimes. While the singer's name does appear in the Epstein Library , the references we found don't accuse her of any wrongdoing and, for example, concern such matters as tickets to her concerts:
(www.justice.gov/epstein)
(www.justice.gov)
All in all, while genuine photographs of Trump and Epstein together exist , the image above isn't real. It's one of many fabricated images of the two that have circulated on social media.
Sources:
Deng, Rae. "Is Image of Shirtless Trump and Epstein on Boat Real? Don't Be Fooled." Snopes , Snopes.com, 15 Sept. 2026, www.snopes.com/fact-check/image-trump-epstein-shirtless-boat/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.
Google. "Gemini." Gemini.Google.Com , Google, 2025, gemini.google.com/app. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.
"Hive Moderation." Hivemoderation.Com , 2022, hivemoderation.com/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.
Taija PerryCook. "Image of Trump and Epstein on Private Plane Isn't Real." Snopes , Snopes.com, 16 Aug. 2024, www.snopes.com/fact-check/fake-trump-epstein-on-private-plane/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.
---. "Real 1997 Photo of Trump and Epstein Together Thrown Into New Light by X Post From Musk." Snopes , Snopes.com, 5 June 2025, www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-epstein-photo-musk/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.
Justice.Gov , 2025, www.justice.gov/epstein. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.
