Former U.S. President Donald Trump is once again under fire after sharing a controversial AI-generated video on his social media platform, Truth Social. The video, originally posted on TikTok, depicts former President Barack Obama being arrested and imprisoned—an entirely fictional scenario created with artificial intelligence.
Set to the tune of “YMCA” by The Village People—often associated with Trump’s rallies—the clip uses real footage from 2016, when Trump met Obama at the White House, and digitally alters it to show Obama being handcuffed and taken to federal prison. It also includes audio of Obama stating, “no one is above the law,” taken from a past speech.
Critics across social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), have condemned the post, calling it “embarrassing,” “dangerous,” and “misleading,” with many expressing concern that Trump’s older voter base may interpret the video as real.
This is not Trump’s first AI-related controversy. He has previously posted AI-generated content depicting himself as Superman, satirical edits involving Bruce Springsteen, and other heavily criticized visuals. However, this video—featuring a fabricated arrest of a former president—marks a new escalation in the use of manipulated media.
“Trump is a convicted felon, not Obama,” one user reminded others online, while others questioned the appropriateness of such posts from someone who has held the highest office in the country.
Barack Obama has not publicly responded to the video, but political analysts suggest the trend of AI-generated attacks from Trump’s camp is unlikely to stop anytime soon.
