Trump shares AI video falsely depicting Barack Obama's arrest by FBI, draws sharp criticism

US President Donald Trump has sparked widespread outrage after posting an AI-generated video on Truth Social that falsely depicts Barack Obama being arrested by FBI agents in the Oval Office.

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The video opens with real footage of Obama stating, "especially the President is above the law," followed by several U.S. political figures asserting, "no one is above the law." It then shifts to an AI-generated scene of Obama being handcuffed in the White House by two agents while Trump watches and smiles. The video concludes with a fabricated image of Obama in a prison cell wearing an orange jumpsuit.

Critics condemned the video as "deeply irresponsible," particularly because it lacked any disclaimer identifying it as fictional or AI-generated. Many warned that it represents a dangerous misuse of artificial intelligence and disinformation in the political arena.

The video comes in the wake of controversial remarks from U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who recently released a 114-page declassified intelligence report. Gabbard alleged that former Obama administration officials manipulated intelligence after the 2016 election in an effort to discredit Trump’s presidency by promoting the now-debunked Trump-Russia collusion narrative.

In a post on X, Gabbard called the actions a “treasonous conspiracy,” accusing officials of weaponising US intelligence agencies in what she described as a "years-long coup" against Trump. She urged that those responsible be brought to trial.

However, the ODNI report also includes assessments from late 2016 stating that Russia "did not impact the outcome of the US election" through cyber interference. The findings have reignited partisan debates over the origins and handling of the Russia investigation.

Trump’s decision to publish the AI video without clarification has intensified concerns over the political misuse of artificial intelligence. "This is not just satire—it’s calculated disinformation that undermines democratic trust," said one media ethics expert. Others warned that such deepfake content could become a major weapon in the 2024 and 2028 elections.