GOP Accused of Editing J.D. Vance's Birthday Photo

The Republican Party faces allegations of digitally altering Vice President J.D. Vance's birthday photograph. On Saturday, to celebrate his 41st birthday, the party's official X platform shared an image of Vance accompanied by a birthday message. However, online observers quickly noticed several anomalies suggesting the photo had been edited. Specifically, Vance's thumb appears missing, and the stars on the flag behind him—especially near his head—show unusual distortion and blurring effects. Additionally, his right triceps seem to fade into an oddly shaped arm that doesn't match his overall physique. Compared to the original photo taken during his inauguration in January, the edited version appears to have been adjusted to make his waist look narrower, with increased space between his waist and right arm. Requests for comment were made to J.D. Vance's office and the Republican National Committee. This incident isn't the first time Vance has been the subject of manipulated images. In 2024, Rep. Mike Collins posted a heavily edited photo depicting Vance with a chiseled jawline and a slimmer face, aiming to portray him as a stereotypical 'Chad' figure, which instead drew mockery onli...