Trump Shares AI Video Depicting Obama Arrest, Stirring Online Firestorm
President Trump ignited fresh controversy Sunday night by reposting a digitally altered video to Truth Social that shows former President Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office complete with the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” playing in the background.
The video, which appears to have first surfaced on TikTok, is widely understood to be AI-generated. It opens with a montage of real footage showing Democratic leaders stating, “No one is above the law,” before cutting to an entirely fabricated scene: Trump grinning as FBI agents escort Obama out of the Oval Office.
The clip quickly went viral, prompting strong reactions across the political spectrum. Obama’s office declined to comment on the video.
“Y.M.C.A.” has long been a staple at Trump campaign events, often blasting as he exits the stage. The use of the song in this video adds another layer of spectacle to the already controversial content.
The post landed just days after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused officials from the Obama era of manipulating intelligence about Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election. Gabbard claimed she has submitted evidence to the Department of Justice for possible investigation an allegation swiftly dismissed by Democratic lawmakers as politically motivated.
Some observers believe Trump’s AI video may be an attempt to shift attention from renewed public interest in the Epstein case an issue that has resurfaced in recent weeks and sparked debate among both critics and supporters of the president.
Trump has often posted AI-generated and meme-style content targeting political figures. The New York Times noted the Obama video draws visual inspiration from their November 2016 meeting in the White House following Trump’s election win.
The imagery also evokes memories of Trump’s 2016 campaign, when he led the now-famous “lock her up” chants aimed at Hillary Clinton rhetoric that was considered unusually combative at the time.
While critics have slammed the video as irresponsible and misleading, arguing it adds fuel to the growing problem of political misinformation in the digital age, supporters defend it as exaggerated satire meant to provoke and entertain.
With no comment yet from Obama or his team, the video’s rapid spread underscores how AI-driven content is blurring the line between parody and propaganda raising fresh concerns about truth, influence, and political messaging heading into the next election cycle.
