Former President Barack Obama and George Soros seen laughing together in a photograph is a digital fake. Rather, the photograph of the former U.S. president and the Hungarian-born billionaire philanthropist is a composite of at least two different images. Where did this digital fake image originate? Obama seen being extremely friendly with Soros was frequently shared on social media by individuals who pushed various and unfounded conspiracy theories about the billionaire investor.
For example, an image was posted on Twitter in August 2017 by political commentator Dinesh D’Souza along with the following message labeling Soros a Nazi collaborator. In the past, many have falsely accused Soros of being a Nazi supporter during World War II who then benefited from those crimes.
This is the benefit of being on the left, Barack–even when you’re an unrepentant Nazi collaborator like me, you get away with it pic.twitter.com/1iTVygWMqo
— Dinesh D’Souza (@DineshDSouza) August 25, 2017
The original photograph was taken at a campaign rally on 28 January 2008 at American University and showed then-candidate Barack Obama with Senator Ted Kennedy. At some point, Soros’s head was superimposed over Kennedy’s to make it appear as if Obama was conspiring with the billionaire, who has become a boogeyman to some segments of the American right wing.
Here is another examples of someone sharing the fake image on social media.
Why is Obama laughing with George Soros pic.twitter.com/r145HnioS2
— John Doe (@JohnDoe19275627) August 13, 2017
However, here is the genuine photograph (left) and the doctored image (right).
Snopes noted that the photograph was poorly digitally manipulated as it does not actually show Obama sitting alongside Soros and sharing a laugh. For example, the lighting is an obvious giveaway as the shadows on Obama’s face do not match the shadows on Soros’s face.
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Likewise, Soros is slightly out of focus, whereas Obama is in perfect focus. Also, if you look closely at the fake photograph, one can even see a bit of Kennedy’s hair where Soros’s head was superimposed over it, which D’Souza conveniently cropped out of the image in his tweet.
As for the claim that Soros was a “Nazi collaborator”, that rumor was shot down. A fake viral image allegedly depicts Soros as a young man in a Nazi SS uniform. However, the photograph is actually an Auschwitz guard named Oskar Groening. There is no truth to the matter that, during World War II, Soros was a member of the SS, a Nazi paramilitary organization.
This past presidential election, Soros has donated or committed more than $25 million to boost Hillary Clinton and other Democratic candidates and causes, according to Federal Election Commission.
What did you think of the digital fake photograph of Obama and Soros shown together sharing a laugh about something? Did you believe that the photo was real or see people sharing it falsely on social media? Even if the photo were real, does it matter that the two were together? Let us know in the comments section.
Photo Credit: Source