Axios retracts fact-check regarding Nafisa Fai and upside-down flag

Axios has retracted a fact-check concerning Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai after it was revealed that the outlet used an AI-generated image to debunk a video of Fai speaking at a Somali event in Minneapolis.

The original video, which showed Fai speaking in Somali in front of an upside-down American flag, went viral on social media. Initial reports from Axios and the Democratic Party of Oregon characterized the video as a “doctored” deepfake intended as a racist smear. However, investigations and cached images suggested the original footage was authentic.

Reports indicate that Fai’s campaign provided an altered image to attempt to debunk the real video, which Axios subsequently used in its reporting. The incident has sparked significant debate regarding the use of AI in political damage control and the accuracy of digital fact-checking.