Comedian Kathy Griffin addressed an old image of herself and President Donald Trump sitting together at an event, refuting claims that it was digitally altered. In a video on her YouTube channel, Griffin stated that several people had sent her the picture, describing Trump as “someone I used to know, but now I don’t care to know any longer.” She emphasized that the photo was genuine and acknowledged having previously had a friendly rapport with the former president.

Griffin humorously reacted to the image’s authenticity: “I know, can you believe it? There was a time I knew Donald as someone who would attend every event, and we occasionally sat together, sharing laughs. I don’t praise him in his final days. I wanted to prove this isn’t an AI-generated photo and I even got the dress out, which still fits me because the picture must be two decades old.” Despite ongoing criticism, Griffin expressed fondness for a particular photo featuring herself, Trump, and finance personality Suze Orman, calling it a classic representation of the 2000s era.

In 2017, Griffin faced significant backlash for an image she shared depicting herself with a Halloween mask resembling Trump’s severed head. The controversial act drew condemnation across political lines and prompted a Secret Service investigation into whether it posed a threat to the president. Although Griffin initially apologized, she later withdrew the apology and expressed pride in creating the image, describing it as satire.

Reflecting on the lasting impact of the photo, Griffin noted, “People still define me by it. Now, I embrace it because I was right and ahead of my time. I’m proud of it.” Griffin has continued outspoken commentary concerning Trump, encouraging her followers to identify “MAGA” neighbors and organize resistance against policies they disagree with.