Education Secretary Linda McMahon is facing backlash after sharing an AI-generated image of civil rights icon Ida B. Wells in a tribute on Truth Social.

“‘The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.’ Ida B. Wells,” McMahon wrote. “She used her voice to expose injustice, defend truth and demand change. This was a time when doing so could cost her life. Ida B. Wells became one of the most influential voices against injustice in American history.🇺🇸 Why teaching history matters!”

During Wells’ lifetime, she was widely photographed, and many have expressed confusion as to why a fake image was used—particularly after the Trump administration received criticism for its use of artificial intelligence in official-looking posts. Also, coming from the nation’s Education Secretary felt more questionable for some. ​

McMahon’s post, shared Friday, April 10, was part of a series recognizing notable women in American history. The caption praised Wells for exposing injustice, defending truth, and demanding change, but the accompanying image was labeled “Photo by Gemini,” a Google AI tool, according to People and The Washington Post.

Historians said the choice undermines the point of honoring Wells, whose work centered on accuracy and confronting falsehoods. Wells was one of the most outspoken leaders of the civil rights movement. She was a powerful and fearless crusader against lynching and was active in the women’s suffrage movement and beyond.

​The criticism against McMahon lands at a time when public trust in AI is already shaky, especially when it is used to depict real people or historical events. McMahon has also shared AI-generated images of other women in U.S. history, including Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Sacagawea, according to The Washington Post.

​“While I appreciated the recognition of Ida B. Wells, the decision to use an AI-generated image undermines the very values she stood for: truth-telling and her lifelong campaign against false representations,” said author Paula Giddings to the Washington Post. Giddings wrote the biography Ida: A Sword Among Lions on Wells. “To use a fabricated image — even a respectful one — is not only unnecessary but is evidence that the secretary of education misreads [Wells’] legacy,” she continued.

​As for why McMahon used a fake image to depict a very real and widely recognized Black historical icon, when a real photo could have been used, we may never know.

However, it’s clear why the post caused backlash. The erasure of Black history and stories has been a major topic of discussion over the last year, as the Trump Administration’s efforts to promote “American greatness” have often involved sweeping efforts to rewrite Black history.