Altered Photo Used to Depict Barack Obama`s Ties with Buddhism!

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Buddhism has long been revered by many world leaders, both historically and in contemporary times, for its teachings of peace, compassion, and mindfulness. However, our investigation sheds light on an instance where altered images were utilised on social media platforms, often exaggerating the true acceptance towards Buddhism in some contexts.

Social Media Posts

A photo of Barack Obama holding a portrait of Lord Buddha is circulating on social media, suggesting Obama's connection to Buddhism.

Facebook | Archived

Here is another post with the same narrative from 2019, which used this particular image.

Many users appreciated Barack Obama's gesture, as seen in the comments. We also noticed that this particular image of the former US president holding a photograph of Lord Buddha had been making rounds for more than a decade in various dialogues, as seen here and here.

Fact Check

From a Reverse Image Search on Tineye, we found the original image related to the purported image of Obama holding a portrait of Lord Buddha.

The original image uploaded to Flickr in September 2011 depicts NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson presenting framed driving gloves to former US President Obama in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

We found many other images from this event; here is a photo from a different angle, covering the same occasion, posted by Getty Images. Here is a video from the event where President Obama honoured Jimmie Johnson's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship.

The comparison between the viral altered image and the original image can be seen below.

This photo is also available on the ‘PhotoFunia’ website, allowing you to easily replace the original photo of gloves with any image of your choice. As a result, there are hundreds of image edits using this frame.

Obama’s Appreciation for Buddhism

However, it is true that Barack Obama has shown an appreciation for Buddhism and has engaged with Buddhist leaders and teachings. He met twice with the Dalai Lama, which drew criticism from China, and once with Pema Chödrön.

In interviews, Obama mentioned keeping a small Buddha statue in his pocket and issued the White House's first-ever statement on Vesak, reflecting on the Buddha's teachings of peace. More details can be taken here & here.

During his visits to countries with significant Buddhist populations, such as Vietnam and Laos, Obama acknowledged and respected the influence of Buddhism.

Also Read: Obama Drinking A Coconut From a Streetside Shop in SL is an Old & Altered Image!

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