President Trump shares false AI-generated video of Obama arrest, sparking outrage

President Donald J. Trump shared an AI-generated video on his own social media platform Truth Social that falsely depicted Barack Obama being arrested. 

A segment from the video depicting former president Barack H. Obama being detained by ICE agents.

The post featured fake federal agents detaining the former president, accompanied by the caption, "No one is above the law." It quickly gained traction among many Trump supporters online, especially from those who continue to use this conservative media site.

The video has been widely criticized by public officials for spreading misinformation and using AI to blur the line between reality and fiction. Digital media experts warned that such content could mislead the public, especially when posted without any disclaimers. The incident highlights rising concern over AI-generated political propaganda as both sides of the political isle ramp up their implementation of content like this.

Trump did not clarify that the video was fake, nor did his campaign respond to media requests for comment. While some defenders on social media claimed it was satire, others treated it as a legitimate call for Obama’s prosecution. Fact-checkers quickly flagged the video as manipulated content.

A user from the social media platform X responded to this by stating, "Why is he obsessed with AI this is getting embarrassing."

The post also came as Trump continues to call for the withholding of sealed Epstein-related documents. He’s used similar rhetoric in the past to suggest elite figures that oppose him should face consequences, while his allies should be given security like his previous friend Epstein. Critics argue that such insinuations further stoke conspiracy theories in a sea of lies.

Experts are increasingly alarmed by the use of artificial intelligence in political messaging. Deepfake videos can easily be used to spread disinformation, especially when shared by prominent figures.

Despite the backlash, Trump’s video remains live on Truth Social as of this writing. It has garnered over hundreds of thousands of views and continues to circulate in right-wing areas digitally.