America.gov Website Uses Foreign Stock Photos, Report Reveals

Analysis finds six foreign images on America.gov, raising questions about the site's authenticity and global ties.

October 1, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — A recent analysis has uncovered that the newly launched America.gov website features stock photographs taken outside the United States, sparking scrutiny over the platform’s portrayal of American identity.

Officially launched in late September, the government website provides access to federal information through an AI-powered chatbot. President Trump has praised the initiative, calling it one of the most significant product launches in history. However, The Daily Beast found that at least six of the 11 stock images used on the site were not taken within U.S. borders.

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One image, depicting a mother and daughter examining a tablet, was captured in Beijing, China, while another showing a smiling couple was taken in Vigo, Spain. A third image of a child gazing at airplanes was sourced from Madrid, and a fourth featuring a person leaping into a lake was taken in British Columbia, Canada. Additional images were found to originate from Poland and Estonia, according to the report. Despite these findings, the source of the images—Stocksy—is based in Canada, as revealed by The Daily Beast.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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