Kathy Griffin Clarifies Photo with Donald Trump, Comments on Controversial Image

Comedian Kathy Griffin addressed a recent discussion regarding an old photo featuring herself and President Donald Trump. She made it clear that the image circulating was real and not generated by AI.

In a video shared on her YouTube channel, Griffin explained she has repeatedly received messages about this photo with Trump, whom she referred to as “someone I used to know, but now I don’t care to know any longer.” Griffin confirmed that she once shared a friendly relationship with Trump.

“I know, can you believe it?” Griffin remarked. “There was a time I knew Donald as someone who would show up at events, and I would sit next to him sometimes. He’d laugh at my jokes. I want to show you that is not an AI photo, and that’s why I got the dress out, which I still fit into by the way because that picture’s got to be 20 years old.”

Griffin noted that despite her frequent criticisms of Trump, she appreciated a specific photo featuring her, Trump, and financial TV personality Suze Orman. She felt it captured the essence of the 2000s when encountering Trump at events was commonplace.

She continued to explain that several pictures of her with Trump exist online, often used by Trump supporters to question her stance after she famously depicted a satirical image showing a mock severed head of Trump in 2017.

The controversial image, which Griffin spearheaded in 2017, resulted in widespread backlash. It involved bipartisan condemnation and even an investigation by the Secret Service into its perceived threat to the president. Although Griffin initially apologized, she has since retracted that apology, stating her pride in the image’s impact.

“People still define me by it,” she reflected. “Now, I really own it, and I absolutely lean into it, because I was right, and I was ahead of my time.”

Fox News contacted the White House for comments regarding Griffin’s statements.