Trump Shares AI-Generated Video of Obama Being Arrested, Sparking Fresh Controversy
President Trump stirred backlash on Sunday night after posting a digitally altered video to Truth Social depicting former President Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office set to the tune of the disco hit “Y.M.C.A.”
The clip, which appears to have originated on TikTok before being reposted by Trump, is widely believed to have been generated using artificial intelligence. It begins with a 30-second montage of real footage showing Democratic leaders repeating the phrase, “No one is above the law,” before cutting to a fabricated scene of Trump smiling across from Obama as FBI agents escort the former president away.
The video quickly went viral and drew sharp reactions online. Obama’s office declined to comment on the post.
The song “Y.M.C.A.” a staple at Trump rallies plays in the background as the dramatized arrest unfolds. The Village People track has become a signature soundtrack for Trump events, often accompanying his stage appearances.
Trump’s post came just days after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused former Obama-era officials of “manufacturing intelligence” related to Russian election interference in 2016. Gabbard, in a memo released last week, said she was turning over documents to the Justice Department for review and possible referrals.
Democratic lawmakers quickly dismissed Gabbard’s allegations, calling them politically driven and lacking merit.
The president’s latest post also appears to be part of a broader effort to shift attention away from renewed scrutiny surrounding the Epstein case an issue that has divided his supporters and triggered fresh waves of speculation online.
Trump is no stranger to posting digitally manipulated content. He has frequently shared AI-generated videos and meme-style clips on his social platform, many featuring exaggerated or humorous portrayals of political rivals. The Obama video, according to The New York Times, seems to have been inspired by their real-life Oval Office meeting in November 2016 following Trump’s election victory.
The video also harkens back to Trump’s 2016 campaign, during which he repeatedly led chants of “lock her up” targeting then-rival Hillary Clinton. At the time, it was considered an unusually aggressive attack line against a political opponent.
Critics of the new video have called it reckless and misleading, arguing it contributes to a growing trend of political misinformation. Supporters, however, have defended it as satire and political commentary.
While no official response has come from Obama or his representatives, the video’s rapid spread underscores the increasingly blurred line between digital parody and political messaging in the age of AI.