White House Posts Doctored Photo Of Civil Rights Activist's Arrest

The United States White House admitted it shared a digitally altered image of civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong following her arrest in Minnesota. The altered image showed Armstrong appearing to cry while being escorted by a federal officer. Another version of the same photo shared earlier showed her calm and composed.

The altered image was posted by the official White House account on X about thirty minutes after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared the original photo. Community notes on X labeled the later image as digitally altered. Several Trump administration officials reposted it including Vice President JD Vance.

Homeland Security Investigators and FBI agents arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong who played a key role in orchestrating the Church Riots in St. Paul, Minnesota.

She is being charged with a federal crime under 18 USC 241.

Religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States -… pic.twitter.com/LHh994fXf3

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 22, 2026

On January 15, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI had arrested Armstrong in connection with a church protest. Bondi said Armstrong played a key role in organising what she described as a 'coordinated attack on Cities Church.' She also announced the arrests of Chauntyll Louisa Allen and William Kelly and said more updates would follow.

The White House post showing Armstrong sobbing was published shortly after Bondi’s announcement.

After the image controversy, Armstrong released a video recorded by her husband that showed her arrest from beginning to end. In the video Armstrong appeared calm and did not cry. She asked officers to treat her with dignity and respect. Armstrong accused the administration of using altered images to influence public opinion and discredit protesters.

What the Arrest Was About

The protest took place during a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul. Video shared by Black Lives Matter Minnesota showed more than a dozen demonstrators entering the church and chanting slogans such as 'Justice for Renee Good' and 'ICE out'. The protest briefly halted the worship service.

Renee Nicole Good was a 37 year old mother of three who was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis earlier this month. Her death sparked widespread protests across the city and renewed criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Cities Church leaders said the protesters disrupted worship and frightened congregants, including children. In a public statement, the church described the actions as intimidation and said such conduct would not be tolerated. The church also stated that disrupting worship is not protected under the law.

Activists said they targeted the church because one of its pastors David Easterwood also serves as an acting field director for ICE in St. Paul. Protest organizers said they believed the pastor’s role created a moral conflict. They also claimed the group did not act violently and said they were invited into the church.

Federal officials disagreed with that account. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the protest crossed legal lines and emphasized that the government does not tolerate attacks on places of worship. FBI Director Kash Patel said the protest violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act also known as the FACE Act.

The FACE Act is a federal law passed in 1994. It bans the use of force threats or physical obstruction to interfere with people exercising religious freedom at places of worship. Federal authorities said this law applies to the church protest.

Timeline of Arrests and Legal Actions

Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI arrested Armstrong along with Chauntyll Louisa Allen and William Kelly. Allen is a member of the St. Paul school board. All three were listed as defendants in federal filings.

Armstrong appeared in federal court on Thursday. The judge ruled there was not enough evidence to justify keeping her in custody. She was released later that day under conditions that limit travel and bar contact with the church.

Allen was also released following court proceedings. Kelly remains involved in the case though details of his status were not immediately clear.

The arrests came as protests continued in Minneapolis and nearby areas. State officials confirmed that National Guard troops were on standby as demonstrations continued across the city.

During the same period the White House posted a photo on social media showing Armstrong during her arrest. The image appeared to show her crying while being led by an officer. Soon after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a different version of the same photo in which Armstrong did not appear to be crying.

Armstrong later released a video recorded by her husband that showed her arrest in full. In the video she remained calm and asked agents to treat her with dignity and respect. She did not appear to cry at any point in the footage. Armstrong accused the administration of using altered images to shape public opinion.

The White House has not commented on the image differences. NewsNation has requested a response and said it will provide updates if one is received.

Armstrong is a well known figure in Minnesota activism. She is a former president of the Minneapolis branch of the NAACP and has been involved in protests following the deaths of George Floyd Philando Castile and Jamar Clark. She previously taught law at the University of St Thomas and ran for mayor of Minneapolis in 2017.

In statements to NewsNation Armstrong said the Justice Department should focus its investigation on the officer who shot Renee Good rather than protesters. She said the arrests were an attempt to silence criticism of immigration enforcement.

Federal officials said investigations into the protest and related actions are ongoing. They have also stated they will continue to enforce laws protecting religious freedom and public safety.