Image linking Claudia Sheinbaum to the M-19 was created with AI

A false image linking Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum with the Colombian rebel group M-19 has surfaced online, created using artificial intelligence. The image shows Sheinbaum wearing military uniform and a flag of Colombia, accompanied by text claiming she was part of the M-19 during the 1980s. Such claims have circulated on social media, but they have been widely debunked. The image, which has gained traction on digital platforms, was analyzed by tools such as Hive Moderation and WasItAI, both of which concluded that it was generated with high probability using artificial intelligence. SynthID further identified invisible watermarks linked to Google AI, indicating the image was produced using its models. The visual elements of the image resemble a photograph of Sheinbaum from her youth, suggesting that this older photo may have been used as a basis for the AI-generated image. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has previously made unsubstantiated claims linking Sheinbaum to the M-19, a guerrilla organization that emerged after the fraudulent 1970 elections in Colombia. In 2024, during a speech at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Petro stated that Sheinbaum had been a collaborator and militant of the M-19. These remarks were reported by multiple national and international media outlets. Additionally, in September 2025, he asked Sheinbaum and the Colombian diplomatic community in Mexico to assist in the search for two missing Colombian musicians, describing her as his “comrade from the M-19.” Sheinbaum has consistently denied these allegations. After Petro’s initial claim in 2024, she explained that during her youth, she had collaborated with Colombian students who “had some kind of links at that time.” When Petro reiterated the connection months later, she responded directly during her daily program “Las Mañaneras,” stating, “I was never a member of the M-19. I will not enter into a debate with President Petro.” Former members of the M-19, including Darío Villamizar and Everth Bustamante, have confirmed that Sheinbaum did not join the organization. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sheinbaum was part of the Student Council of the UNAM, a movement that later gave rise to the now-defunct Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD). In the 1990s, while studying abroad in the United States, she participated in protests against the government of then-President Carlos Salinas, who was visiting the country at the time. The spread of the AI-generated image highlights ongoing tensions between political figures in Mexico and Colombia, particularly regarding historical narratives and personal connections. While the image itself is clearly fabricated, the repeated association of Sheinbaum with the M-19 underscores broader issues of misinformation and the use of technology to manipulate public perception. As investigations continue, authorities are examining how the image came to be shared so widely. The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the potential misuse of AI in political discourse. For now, the focus remains on verifying the authenticity of the image and understanding the motivations behind its creation.