Archive · 25 Jun 2025
Fact Check: Fake Obama Image of Bowing to Iranian Leader
A fake picture is going around online that makes it look like Barack Obama bowed to Iran's leader.
It's not real!
Someone made it by putting two different photos together.
One photo is of Obama with a child in the Oval Office, and the other is of the Iranian leader.
Fact-checkers have said the image is fake.
The fake image spread around the time when there were tensions between the US and Iran.
It is important to know that what you see online is not always true.
A digitally altered image of Barack Obama bowing to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is circulating online.
The manipulated image combines photos of Obama and Khamenei from different events.
Fact-checkers confirmed the image's falsity; it's not a real event.
The original Obama photo shows him interacting with a child.
The altered image resurfaced amid rising tensions between the US and Iran.
- Who
- The image involves Barack Obama, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and was shared by people online.
- What
- A digitally altered image falsely depicting Barack Obama bowing to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is circulating online.
- When
- The image resurfaced after US airstrikes and amid rising tensions.
- Where
- The image is spreading online.
- Why
- The image's spread is connected to rising political tensions.
- Subject
- Digitally altered image
- Involves
- Barack Obama, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
- Image Origin
- Combination of two separate photographs
- Original Obama photo date
- May 2009
- Khamenei photo date
- 2005
- Purpose
- Misinformation