Fact Check: Is Tyler Robinson’s ‘Trump T-shirt’ Photo Real?

A photo of Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the Charlie Kirk shooting, wearing a Trump T-shirt has gone viral on social media. Many users claimed the 22-year-old supported Donald Trump and his past campaigns. Robinson was identified as the shooter who killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah Valley University event on Wednesday.

Officials confirmed Robinson’s arrest on Friday. He faces charges including aggravated murder and felony discharge of a firearm. A judge ordered he be held without bail. But the photo now circulating is not what it seems.

Fake Trump T-shirt Photo of Tyler Robinson

Investigations show that the image of Robinson in a Trump T-shirt is fake. According to Associated Press and Reuters, the picture was edited from one of Robinson’s real social media posts. In the original, he was not wearing political merchandise.

An account with millions of followers on X (formerly Twitter) shared the doctored photo. The same account later posted the original image in a follow-up, but the fake photo spread far more widely. The altered version drew hundreds of thousands of views within an hour, while the correction received far fewer.

Robinson has no official ties to any political party, according to Utah state voter records. He was registered but listed as inactive, meaning he had not voted in the last two elections. No prior criminal cases appear under his name in state or federal records.

Why the Fake Image Matters

The spread of the Trump T-shirt photo has fueled online debate over Robinson’s motives. Some users accused him of being a Trump supporter. Others pointed to his alleged hatred of Kirk, as reported by family members. Utah Governor Spencer Cox and FBI officials said Robinson told relatives he believed Kirk spread hatred.

The suspect also wrote racist words on bullet casings and discussed rifles on Discord. These details were confirmed in a probable cause statement. None of these records link Robinson to Trump campaigns or pro-Trump activism.

The fake photo highlights how quickly misinformation can distort major news. Experts warn that manipulated images often travel faster than corrections. In this case, the viral photo added confusion to an already tense political moment.

Impact of Viral False Claims

The doctored Trump T-shirt photo has become part of the wider discussion on the dangers of online disinformation. False images can shape public opinion before facts are confirmed.

For Robinson’s case, the fake picture created a misleading narrative about his political stance. Officials have not tied him to Trump or any other political group. His motives appear to center on personal anger toward Kirk and extremist views shared online.

The viral Trump T-shirt photo of Tyler Robinson is fake. It was digitally altered and does not reflect the suspect’s real political identity.

An account with 5 million followers on X posts a fake photo of suspect Tyler Robinson wearing a Trump shirt and quietly follows up in a thread with the real photo.

The fake photo (which hasn’t been deleted) gets 400k impressions in an hour, and the real one gets 50k.

There… pic.twitter.com/wbckhT0Rqw

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 12, 2025

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Is the Tyler Robinson Trump T-shirt photo real?

No. The photo was edited. The original image did not show him in a Trump T-shirt.

Q2: Who confirmed the photo was fake?

News agencies like Reuters and Associated Press reported that the viral Trump T-shirt image was altered.

Q3: Was Tyler Robinson a Trump supporter?

There is no record of him supporting Trump. State voter files show he was registered but inactive, with no party affiliation.

Q4: What charges does Robinson face?

He faces aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious harm, and obstruction of justice. He is held without bail.

Q5: Why did the fake photo spread so fast?

It was posted by a popular account on X. The fake drew 400,000 views in an hour, while the correction got far fewer.