US President Donald Trump has faced widespread criticism after posting a series of cryptic online updates. They included an artificial intelligence generated video showing himself “wrestling” a tiger, an animal later blamed for an attack in the United Kingdom.
The backlash followed Trump’s posting of footage showing a real incident at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, England. In that incident, 23-year-old William Chapman was mauled and killed after he jumped into an enclosure housing big cats.
Criticism over sharing footage of the fatal attack
Public safety activists, internet users and family members of the victim spoke out against the president. They objected to the sharing of the grainy, unedited recording, which was posted despite pleas from the victim’s relatives that it not be shared.
Rather than responding to the outrage or removing the original posts, Trump shared his own AI-generated video. It showed a digital version of himself running after the tiger, tackling it and embracing the big cat while beaming.
Online reaction and concerns from officials
The fantasy clip quickly became an internet sensation and set off a large public backlash across several social media channels. Commentators and public safety officials described the post as insensitive, with many viewing it as turning a tragic death into a self-serving meme.
Public safety officials and political experts have also raised concerns about the spread of graphic digital imagery and the sharing of norm-breaking AI content by influential public figures.
