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No. The image of Donald Trump walking backward through a “March of Progress” sequence was not a newly painted Banksy mural. A European Broadcasting Union (EBU) fact-check published March 5, 2025, found it was a digitally altered version of a mural by London street artist Loretto, first seen in Soho in June 2017.
What does the viral image show?
The image began circulating on social media on March 2, 2025, and was widely described as a new Banksy. It shows Trump moving backward through a familiar sequence of human evolution, a visual conceit that helped the attribution spread. But a Banksy-like style or subject is not proof of authorship.
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The EBU’s fact-check, headlined “Street art of Trump walking against evolution falsely attributed to Banksy”, concluded that the circulating photo was a digitally altered version of a Loretto mural seen in Soho in June 2017.
Who made the original mural, and where was it?
The original work was attributed to London street artist Loretto and known as “March of Progress.” It was reported on a wall at the corner of Great Marlborough Street and Noel Street in central Soho in June 2017. The EBU compared the viral image with records of that earlier work and identified the Loretto tag as another clue against the Banksy attribution.
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Why is the claim that it was newly painted contradicted?
- The image has an earlier source. The composition traces back to Loretto’s 2017 mural; the Trump version circulating in 2025 was digitally altered.
- The wall’s later appearance does not fit a new mural. Street View imagery showed the wall painted green by July 2024, before the viral image appeared.
- Physical details match the older location. Markings and pipes visible in the older and circulating images correspond, supporting the conclusion that the viral photo reuses the original setting rather than documenting a newly painted work.
These findings distinguish the real 2017 mural from the later edited image. They do not establish who made the digital alteration.
Did Banksy confirm the Trump image?
No confirmation appeared on Banksy’s Instagram, where the artist typically confirms new pieces. That absence alone would not prove an image false, but here it fits the stronger evidence: the EBU’s image comparison, the earlier reporting on Loretto’s mural, and the dated Street View record.
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How to check a viral Banksy attribution
- Look for confirmation from Banksy. Check the artist’s own publication channels rather than relying on reposts or captions.
- Trace the image. Search for earlier versions and compare distinctive elements, including signatures, wall features, and surrounding details.
- Check the site’s history. Dated photographs and Street View imagery can show whether a wall existed in the claimed state on the claimed date.
- Separate style from authorship. A work that resembles Banksy’s visual language is not authenticated by resemblance alone.
In this case, the combination of those checks supports the EBU’s conclusion: the viral Trump image was an edited version of Loretto’s 2017 “March of Progress,” not evidence that Banksy had painted a new mural in London.
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