A widely shared image online purports to depict a young Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s mayor, alongside convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, former US President Bill Clinton, and tech billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. This image has circulated extensively amid increased public attention on Mamdani and renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s associations with prominent individuals. The authenticity of this photograph is in question.
The image circulated online in July 2026, claiming to show a youthful Zohran Mamdani on a beach with Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos. Versions of this image had been circulating on platforms like X and Threads since January 2026.
The photograph resurfaced following the release of US Justice Department documents mentioning Mamdani’s mother, filmmaker Mira Nair. Her name appeared in a 2009 email referencing a film afterparty hosted by Ghislaine Maxwell. It is important to note that these documents did not allege any wrongdoing or criminal involvement by Nair.
These documents were subsequently utilized in a coordinated social media misinformation campaign. Users shared AI-generated images falsely suggesting a connection between Mamdani, his mother, and Epstein. These fabricated images were previously addressed and debunked in February 2026.
Fact Check: The image is not authentic.
Despite the belief of many social media users, the image is fabricated. It first appeared on an X account known for creating "AI-powered … videos & memes." The original post containing the image was made on January 31, 2026.
An analysis detected a SynthID watermark within the image, indicating its creation or modification using Google’s AI tools. The original post also included small "DFF" labels in the upper corners, which were subsequently removed from the versions that gained wider circulation.
Several visual inconsistencies point to AI manipulation. For instance, Bill Gates appears to be missing a finger on his left hand, and Jeffrey Epstein’s arm does not connect naturally with Bill Clinton’s body. Additionally, Gates’ shirt collar shows an unrealistic extra button or buttonhole.
Furthermore, the timeline presented in the image is inconsistent. Zohran Mamdani was born in 1991, suggesting he would have been around 10 years old in 2001 if the image depicted him at that age. However, Jeff Bezos is shown as largely bald, whereas photographs from 2001 show him with significantly more hair. These discrepancies confirm that the image is not genuine.