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The Trump administration on Thursday misrepresented the arrest of a prominent civil rights attorney for her role in an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church.
On its official X page, the White House posted an image of Nekima Levy Armstrong that showed her in tears with, her arms behind her back, standing in front of someone wearing a badge around their neck.
But in reality, Levy Armstrong wasn’t crying. The original image showed her with a neutral expression. The image was manipulated to make the moment more dramatic.
Certain details in both images are the same, indicating they are not simply photos taken at different times. For example, the badge worn by the person behind Levy Armstrong is in the same position, as are the lights shining through the curtain to the left of Levy Armstrong’s head.
A composite shows the original photo of Levy Armstrong, left, and the altered version, as posted by The White House, right. (CBC/@Sec_Noem via X/@WhiteHouse via X)
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Levy Armstrong’s arrest in an X post at 9:28 a.m. ET on Thursday.
Less than an hour later, at 10:21 a.m. ET, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted the original photo of Levy Armstrong, also on X:
Homeland Security Investigators and FBI agents arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong who played a key role in orchestrating the Church Riots in St. Paul, Minnesota.
She is being charged with a federal crime under 18 USC 241.
Religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States -… pic.twitter.com/LHh994fXf3
The White House then posted the manipulated image at 10:54 a.m. ET. Readers pointed out the post was false and attached the original photo to the post:
Jordan Kushner, an attorney for Levy Armstrong, said he was present at his client’s arrest and said any videos and photos put out by the administration showing her crying were manipulated.
“It is just so outrageous that the White House would make up stories about someone to try and discredit them,” Kushner said. “She was completely calm and composed and rational. There was no one crying. So this is just outrageous defamation.”
He added that video Levy Armstrong’s husband shot “dismantles what they claim” and that the video would be released soon.
Amid growing questions about the image, White House Deputy Communications Director Kaelan Dorr wrote on X Thursday afternoon: “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.”
Charges for journalist Lemon rejected
Levy Armstrong and at least two other people were arrested following a protest on Sunday at the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., where a Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official serves as a pastor.
The Justice Department quickly opened a civil rights investigation after the group interrupted services by chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to the 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier this month.
Neither the White House nor Homeland Security immediately responded to requests for additional comment.
Judge rejects charges for journalist
While arrests were announced, a magistrate judge rejected federal prosecutors’ bid to charge former CNN anchor Don Lemon in connection with the church protest.
Lemon has said he was at the church as a journalist and not a protester.
“Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it and talk to the people involved, including the pastor, members of the church and members of the organization,” Lemon said in a video posted on social media.
Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement that the judge’s action confirms Lemon’s work as a reporter was protected by the First Amendment.