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Legacy media faces fresh credibility questions after MSNBC used AI-enhanced images in coverage of a fatal anti-ICE protest, fuelling misinformation, political spin, and public distrust.

AI-manipulated images used by anti-ICE protestors have left the never-Trump media red-faced.

MSNBC (MS NOW) triggered the fake news scandal by republishing heavily doctored images of the late Alex Pretti, a nurse and allegedly radicalised anti-ICE agitator.

Pretti was shot and killed by two border control officers on 24 January, in what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleges was self-defence.

According to the initial report published in part online by USA Today, Pretti obstructed law enforcement, ignored warnings, and became uncooperative.

Failing to heed those warnings, Pretti resisted arrest, struggled with the border control agents, and was then shot for allegedly pulling out a gun.

Recounting the incident, DHS stated,

“Border control (CBPO) attempted to move a woman and Pretti out of the roadway. The woman and Pretti did not move.”

Using capsicum spray, “CBPO personnel attempted to take Pretti into custody. He resisted those efforts.”

“During the struggle, an officer yelled, “He’s got a gun!” multiple times. Approximately five seconds later, a Border Patrol Agent discharged his CBP-issued Glock 19, and a CBPO also discharged his CBP-issued Glock 47 at Pretti.

“After the shooting, the Border Patrol Agent advised he had possession of Pretti’s firearm and subsequently had secured it in his vehicle.”

Agents immediately applied first aid to Pretti and called in an ambulance. He later died at Hennepin County Medical Centre.

The DHS later confirmed that each agent involved has been put on leave, pending an official investigation.

AI Images, Real Consequences

Since the incident, misinformation has been rampant, with MSNBC exemplifying legacy media’s apparent disregard for confirmation bias.

Alex Pretti’s picture was edited using AI to make him appear “prettier” for the public.

MSNBC broadcast the edited image on air, and the same image was displayed during a memorial at the recent New York Sirens vs. Minnesota Frost matchup.

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— AF Post (@AFpost) January 27, 2026

Fact-checking organisation Snopes mostly vindicated social media user claims that an “AI-enhanced” photo of Pretti was being used by MSNBC.

Snopes confirmed the photo was “upscaled” by AI, then called MSNBC out for using the image in its multiple reports about the shooting.

MSNBC’s response was to distance the company from the AI-altered content, stating they were not responsible for altering the image.

The network told Snopes they had no idea the image was enhanced, saying the jazzed-up “picture of Pretti came from the internet.”

Keeping suspicions about a hidden agenda alive, MSNBC has not yet formally apologised for using the fake image.

This is despite the network adding a correction to their YouTube version, stating,

“MS NOW swapped out the original thumbnail image for this video. The previous thumbnail used was an AI-enhanced image of Alex Pretti.”

Snopes added that they had found the fake photo all over social media.

The use of the altered image “included a Texas state representative, nursing websites, The Daily Mail and International Business Times.”

Media Spin, Politics, and Protest Psy-ops

Mocking MSNBC, podcast king Joe Rogan said that Pretti was clearly heavily involved in stirring up law enforcement.

“When you go to what’s supposed to be a peaceful protest, and you’re fully armed, with like two magazines, that’s crazy.

“They did the opposite of what CNN did to me during COVID.”

Recounting the COVID-19 spin, Rogan said CNN made him like he was dying, yet here the media are “making Pretti look handsome.”

“This is so people would be more sympathetic to him getting shot.”

“Are ugly people less valuable to MSNBC? Less marketable?” he quipped.

Rogan’s guest, Debate University’s Andrew Wilson, replied,

“This doesn’t surprise me. This is what’s going on. This is a well-orchestrated, well-crafted thing.”

Agreeing, Rogan pointed out that this “also involves Tim Walz’s Democrat government in Minnesota.”

Megyn Kelly’s reaction was as blunt.

The American Conservative commentator called for people to “be more careful about verifying what they see online.”

To this, she added,

“Apparently, [anti-ICE] protestors did not think that their hero was hot enough.

“So, they – or someone from whom they got the picture – clearly manipulated the photo, to make Pretti look better in his nurse’s scrubs.

“This is performative. It’s all for show.”

The stunt looks a lot like anti-ICE protestors were trying to “make Pretti their poster-boy”, Kelly theorised.

Rogan and Kelly’s remarks are on the money.

MSNBC’s admission without apology adds to concerns that news networks were using the image to sell a politically skewed perspective of the incident.

The doctored images of Pretti and the police appear to be a manufactured protestor-driven psy-op designed to stir up more heated clashes like it.

This has more to do with the mid-term elections than sympathy for Alex Pretti or illegal immigrants.

Pretti and the rest are just convenient props.

Well-funded protests and carefully curated narratives are less about stopping Trump’s administration from delivering on their election-winning border protection promises and more about buying votes for Democrats.

Their apparent manipulative end goal being to turn public opinion against Trump.