Mislabeled photo of Trump and Melania has sparked a viral wave of misinformation

The incorrectly dated photo would prove the Trumps knew each other a year before they admit. But the date is clearly wrong.

A Reddit user and social media influencers, including Ellie Leonard and Bekah Day, have been posting the image, taken by photographer Sonia Moskowitz, claiming to have “proof” that Donald and Melania Trump met a year earlier than their official timeline suggests.

The GettyImages entry lists the photo’s date as September 1, 1997, at the premiere of LA Confidential. If that caption were accurate (it is not), it would indeed contradict the couple’s long stated claim that they met sometime in September 1998 at New York’s Kit Kat Club (during fall fashion week). Paolo Zampolli claims to have introduced them there.

A closer look at the background of the image reveals the poster for I Dreamed of Africa clearly visible right behind Melania.

Close up of the photo mislabeled by Getty Images that clear shows the movie poster for “I Dreamed of Africa” behind Melania Knauss. The film premiered on April 18, 2000. But Getty Images incorrectly labeled the photo to be from September 1, 1997.

The photo depicts the Trumps at a movie premiere taken by Sonia Moskowitz. GettyImages incorrectly states the photo was taken on September 1, 1997 at the premiere of LA Confidential.

Post from “I Dreamed of Africa” starring Kim Bassinger. The film premiered in New York on April 18, 2000. Donald Trump and Melania Knauss were at the premiere.

The photo was actually taken on April 18, 2000 at the New York Premiere of I Dreamed of Africa.

The misinformation was posted on September 7, 2026, around 9:00 pm (PST) on the Subreddit r/Epstein by u/ReZeroForDays. Five hours later, around 2:00 am.

On another note, if you are looking for conclusive proof that Paolo Zampolli did not introduce Donald to Melania at the Kit Kat Club in New York, please check out my other article here.