By J. André Faust (May 17, 2025)
Blood, Optics, and Truth: Separating Fact from Fiction After the Trump Rally ShootingRecently, a photo began circulating on social media depicting Donald Trump with dramatic blood streaks down his face—presented alongside claims that the injury from the July 2024 assassination attempt was staged. The post even claimed that “ChatGPT Pro,” a supposedly elite version of this platform, verified the injury was theatrical.
Let me be clear: that claim is false.
I believe in truth—whether it supports or contradicts my political leanings. While I have been critical of Donald Trump’s conduct and policies, truth must come first. If we permit disinformation to flourish simply because it targets someone we oppose, we’re no better than the forces we claim to stand against.
The Image That Sparked the Doubt
Here is a visual comparison between one of the many altered photos circulating online and the actual events it attempts to depict, to help clarify what’s being claimed versus what actually happened.
Left: Doctored image shared online. Right: Verified press photo of Trump moments after the assassination attempt.
What Actually Happened
On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump was giving a speech at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania when shots rang out.
- One bullet grazed Trump’s right ear, creating a 2-centimeter wound.
- One person, Corey Comperatore, was killed.
- Two others were critically injured.
- The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired from a rooftop and was killed by Secret Service snipers.
- The injury was confirmed by Trump’s former physician and current Congressman, Ronny Jackson.
This is not speculative—it has been documented by every major news organization and government agency involved in the investigation.
Debunking the "ChatGPT Pro" Narrative
Let’s examine a few of the red flags in the circulating post:
- There is no “ChatGPT Pro” that costs thousands of dollars. The highest-tier product available to the public is ChatGPT Plus, which costs $20/month.
- I personally uploaded the image to ChatGPT, and the analysis I received was the opposite of what the post claims. The photo did not match the known wound. The blood pattern was theatrical. The image likely originated from AI generation or digital manipulation.
So not only was the content false—it falsely attributed verification to this platform to make it seem legitimate.
Why This Matters
Even when we dislike someone’s politics, we have an obligation to tell the truth. Spreading falsehoods—no matter how tempting—only fuels polarization, distrust, and erosion of public discourse.
If the roles were reversed, and someone doctored an image to frame your preferred leader, you’d rightfully be outraged.
We don’t get to win arguments by lying better than our opponents.
Final Thoughts
Criticism should always be grounded in truth. What happened at that rally was real. Someone died. Others were injured. And while it’s fair to ask questions and investigate lapses in security, inventing drama through manipulated images only undermines real accountability.
Let’s be better than that.
Let’s be truthful, even when it’s inconvenient.
About the author: J. André Faust is a media analyst, former radio host, and longtime advocate for truth in political discourse. He blogs on politics, propaganda, history, and civic strategy. Follow more of his commentary at J. André Faust is a media analyst, former radio host, and longtime advocate for truth in political discourse. He blogs on politics, propaganda, history, and civic strategy. Follow more of his commentary at https://jafaust.blogspot.com/.
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