We have retracted a story about celebrity makeup artist Yair Poliker after questions arose regarding the authenticity of a photo he claimed showed him applying makeup to U.S. President Donald Trump during a visit to the Knesset.
The original report, published Tuesday, featured an image Poliker said he had taken on his phone, showing him touching up Trump’s makeup. He described the encounter as the “peak of his career” in an interview, stating he had been at the Knesset to work with journalist Ayala Hasson and was asked to assist with Trump’s appearance.
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US President Donald Trump addresses the Knesset, Monday
(Photo: Evan Vucci/Pool via REUTERS)
Poliker is a well-known figure in Israel’s entertainment industry, having worked with high-profile clients over the years. We confirmed he had been present at the Knesset that day and initially accepted his account.
However, as skepticism about the photo’s authenticity mounted online, our editorial team contacted Poliker for clarification. He provided what he said was the original version of the image and claimed only minimal edits had been made on his mobile device.
Despite this, Poliker did not respond to repeated requests for additional supporting information, and we ultimately decided to remove the story. We have not met our usual editorial standards and are reviewing internal procedures regarding the verification of digital images and fact-checking.
Poliker continues to insist the photo is real and that he did, in fact, apply makeup to Trump during the visit, though we have yet to receive further evidence to support the claim.