AI-Generated Photo of President Tinubu With Rwanda’s Kagame Sparks Controversy
The Presidency on Sunday shared a photograph claimed to show President Bola Tinubu meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris, but the image was later identified on X as being AI-generated.
The photograph, which quickly circulated online, was posted by President Tinubu and some of his aides. It appeared to show both leaders seated together during what was described as a private meeting in the French capital. In his post, Tinubu said the discussion focused on global affairs and advancing Africa’s role in the world.
“This afternoon, I had a private lunch with H.E. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda to discuss the current state of world affairs and advancing Africa in an ever-changing global landscape,” Tinubu wrote.
The President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, reinforced the claim, posting: “President Bola Tinubu at a private lunch in Paris with the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame.” Similarly, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, wrote: “President Bola Tinubu at a private lunch in Paris with the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, discussing world affairs and advancing Africa. Sunday, January 4, 2026.”
However, an X note attached to Tinubu’s post raised doubts about the image, stating: “While a meeting between Mr Tinubu and President Kagame is reported to have held in Paris, the image in this post appears to be AI-generated, given the GrokAI badge.”
Grok is a generative AI tool developed by xAI, Elon Musk’s technology company, capable of creating images, generating text, and performing real-time searches.
The revelation has sparked concern over the use of AI-generated images in official presidential communications, particularly regarding international diplomatic engagements.
