Photo appears to show 'core values' mural painted over at FBI Academy. Here's what we know
A rumor circulating online in late January and early February 2025 claimed a photograph authentically captured a person painting over a "core values" mural at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Its destruction was linked to President Donald Trump's executive orders in January 2025 that reversed years of work to increase diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the federal government.
On X, a user posted a photograph of the wall, which featured words such as "diversity," "fairness," and "compassion."
The post's caption reads: "This photograph was taken two days ago at the FBI Academy in Quantico and submitted to the NYT under the condition of anonymity. If a picture is usually worth a thousand words, this one is worth millions."
The photograph was also posted on TikTok and Reddit, and Snopes readers sent us an example with an alternative caption claiming it was "from a friend" who worked in government.
(Snopes reader)
The New York Times published the photograph on Jan. 30, 2025, saying it had been given to the newspaper as a "glimpse of some of the changes underway at the F.B.I., specifically the F.B.I. Academy at Quantico."
The Daily Beast also reported the story, as did LGBTQ+ news site PinkNews, and websites for TV stations such as FOX 12 Oregon and WNEM in Saginaw, Michigan.
However, the FBI told Snopes via email that it could not authenticate that the photograph was taken at the federal agency's academy in Quantico where special agents, intelligence analysts and law enforcement partners train.
The FBI spokesperson said the agency was "fully complying" with Trump's executive order regarding DEI programs, stating:
As a result, Diversity has been removed from the FBI's list of organizational Core Values. Visual and informational materials promoting Diversity as a Core Value are being removed from FBI space.
The removal of non-record visual and informational materials regarding the FBI's Core Values is indicative of a need to update these materials and in no way violates our lawful records retention obligations under the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
Furthermore, while Diversity is no longer an organizational Core Value for our employees, the FBI continues its work to serve and protect all Americans.
We have reached out to The New York Times to ask how they were able to publish that the photograph was taken in the training academy in Quantico and will update this story if we get a response.
Alvarado, Amanda. "FBI Paints over Core Values Wall to Comply with Trump Administration DEI Rollback." Https://Www.kptv.com, Fox 12 Oregon, 3 Feb. 2025, www.kptv.com/2025/02/03/fbi-paints-over-core-values-wall-comply-with-trump-administration-dei-rollback/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
---. "FBI Paints over Core Values Wall to Comply with Trump Administration DEI Rollback." Https://Www.wnem.com, WNEM, 3 Feb. 2025, www.wnem.com/2025/02/03/fbi-paints-over-core-values-wall-comply-with-trump-administration-dei-rollback/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Archacki, Liam. "Trump Admin Paints over FBI's DEI Values in Viral Photo." The Daily Beast, 1 Feb. 2025, www.thedailybeast.com/trump-admin-paints-over-fbis-dei-values-in-viral-photo/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
dreamforamerica. "Conservatives Are Coming after Fairness, Freedom, Compassion, Diversity, Integrity, Leadership, & Respect in Our Nations Top Law Enforcement Agency." Tiktok.com, 1 Feb. 2025, www.tiktok.com/@dreamforamerica/photo/7466199312360410398. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
"Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing – the White House." The White House, 20 Jan. 2025, www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
"FBI Paints over Wall Listing Core Values Including "Diversity" Following Trump's DEI Crackdown." PinkNews, 4 Feb. 2025, www.thepinknews.com/2025/02/04/fbi-paints-over-wall-listing-core-values/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Goldman, Adam, et al. "Hearing Highlights: Kash Patel Joins Republicans in Attacking the F.B.I. He Seeks to Lead." The New York Times, 30 Jan. 2025, www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/30/us/kash-patel-fbi-confirmation-hearing. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Lambert, Zach W. "This Photograph Was Taken Two Days Ago at the FBI Academy in Quantico and Submitted to the NYT under the Condition of Anonymity. If a Picture Is Usually Worth a Thousand Words, This One Is Worth Millions." X (Formerly Twitter), 31 Jan. 2025, x.com/ZachWLambert/status/1885374536025027011. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
"Painting over Core Values at the FBI." Reddit.com, 31 Jan. 2025, www.reddit.com/r/interesting/comments/1ieqesn/painting_over_core_values_at_the_fbi/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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