Photos of Trump, agents smiling amid assassination attempt are doctored

"Why is he so happy," says a July 14, 2024 post on Threads.

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Screenshot from Threads taken July 15, 2024

The picture, a close-up shot that appears to show a bloodied Trump smiling, rocketed across Threads and platforms such as X after a gunman fired on Trump during a July 13 rally, striking the Republican businessman in the ear, killing one bystander and critically wounding two other spectators.

Other social media users spread a different picture purporting to show two Secret Service agents smiling as they escorted Trump away from the stage.

"Photo op of the century," says one post on Threads.

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Screenshot from Threads taken July 15, 2024

Another post sharing the image on X claims Trump had "rehearsals" for the moment, feeding into baseless conspiracy theories that the attack was staged to boost his public image and bid for the White House.

But both photos were altered to insert cheery grins where there were none.

Reverse image searches surfaced the original pictures taken by Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci.

In one, Trump stares soberly ahead as his Secret Service team surrounds him (archived here and here). In the other, the agents in question remain stone-faced as Trump pumps his fist in the air (archived here).

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Screenshot from the Associated Press taken July 15, 2024

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Screenshot from the Associated Press taken July 15, 2024

AFP captured similar photos of Trump and the agents.

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Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face as he is surrounded by secret service agents to be taken off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024 (AFP / Rebecca DROKE)

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Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face as he is surrounded by secret service agents to be taken off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024 (AFP / Rebecca DROKE)

Graphic footage from the shooting also shows neither party smiling.

Facing mounting criticism over the massive security failure, the Secret Service has pledged to cooperate with an independent review of what happened -- including how a gunman wielding an assault rifle was able to take a position on a rooftop some 500 feet (150 meters) away from one of the world's most highly protected political figures.

Authorities identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. He was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper team after firing on the former president.

AFP has debunked other misinformation about the assassination attempt here, here and here.