Trump’s tribute to Charlie Kirk sparks wild AI conspiracy theory | World | News
Donald Trump’s video tribute to Charlie Kirk, filmed at the White House, has sparked unfounded claims that it was created using artificial intelligence. Mr Kirk was a conservative activist and close ally of Mr Trump. He was shot and killed at a university event in Utah on September 10, in what the state’s governor Spencer Cox called a political assassination.
Mr Trump announced the death of the influential activist on social media, praising Mr Kirk as “Great, and even Legendary”. Later on Wednesday, he released a recorded video from the White House in which he called Mr Kirk a “martyr for truth and freedom” and blamed the rhetoric of the “radical left” for the killing.
The video was shared on X, where it prompted a flurry of claims, including that an AI avatar of Mr Trump was being used to deliver the president’s official response.
One X user wrote that Mr Trump’s body and hands “barely move” during the four-minute-long video. He also claimed there was a “weird glitch” in the recording.
Another X user urged followers to study Mr Trump’s hands, alleging it was “clearly AI”.
A third X user claimed: “Uhhhhhhh guys why are they deepfaking the president”.
The claims also reignited speculation over Mr Trump’s health, following false online rumours he had died. Asked by a Fox News reporter during an Oval Office event if he had seen those reports, Mr Trump said “No”.
Mr Trump being seen with bruising on the back of his right hand and swollen ankles have also fuelled speculation on social media. The White House has confirmed Mr Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, which causes blood to pool around the lower legs.
The US president’s video response to Mr Kirk’s being killed has been reported by national media in the US, including Fox News which said Mr Trump speaks with “sincerity and compassion” in the video.
CBS and CNN have also reported that Mr Trump was speaking in the video. Analysis undertaken by the Daily Express also casts doubt on social media claims the video posted from the White House’s official YouTube account was AI generated.
Mr Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political youth organisation, Turning Point USA, at Utah Valley University.
Moments before the shooting, Mr Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence. The suspected shooter wore dark clothing and fired from a building roof some distance away.
Some 3,000 people were at the event, according to a statement from the Utah Department of Public Safety. The university police department had six officers there along with Mr Kirk’s own security.
Authorities in the US have yet to identify a motive, but the circumstances of the shooting have drawn renewed focus on an escalating threat of political violence in the United States.
