A supposed screenshot circulating online in June 2026 has caused a stir, appearing to show The Trump Organization’s online merchandise store offering pieces of peeled paint from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The image also features Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. posing with what are claimed to be fragments of paint from the landmark.
This claim surfaced amidst ongoing scrutiny of the Reflecting Pool renovation project, which has faced controversy due to reports of peeling paint and algae-related issues.
The claim originated from an Instagram post that described the alleged offering as a “patriotic failure” and a “newest collectible innovation.” The shared image depicted a page from the Trump Store website, with Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. holding purported paint chips from the renovation. The screenshot included a slogan, “Introducing American Flag Blue. A piece of history, yours to own.”
Promotional text accompanying the image stated, “Straight from the iconic Trump Reflecting Pool. Genuine peeled paint in our signature American Flag Blue. Limited supply. Lots of demand. Very collectible. Sad!” The image indicated prices starting at $200, with different sizes available and prices increasing accordingly. The screenshot gained traction across various social media platforms, prompting many to question its authenticity.
However, a fact-check reveals that The Trump Organization’s official merchandise store was not selling pieces of paint from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Both the screenshot and the alleged product listing were fabricated.
The image purportedly showing Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. holding paint fragments was also part of the fabricated claim and appears to have been generated using artificial intelligence. Several indicators point to the screenshot’s inauthenticity. The website design shown in the image does not align with the actual Trump Organization’s online store. The purported page displays a blue-and-gold color scheme, whereas the real Trump Store website uses a white-and-gold design.
Furthermore, AI verification tools detected SynthID, an invisible watermark used to identify AI-generated images, within the screenshot. A reverse-image search traced the image to a Facebook user who initially posted it. This user confirmed via email that they created the image using ChatGPT and provided a screenshot of the prompt used for generating the fake Trump Store listing.
The user stated that the image was intended as a parody, and the prompt itself specifically instructed ChatGPT to create a satirical advertisement. However, because the image was initially shared on social media without any indication of satire or disclaimer, many viewers perceived it as genuine. Consequently, the claim that The Trump Organization was selling pieces of peeled paint from the Reflecting Pool is false.
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