Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, operating on the social media platform X, has sparked a fresh political controversy after calling Donald Trump “the most notorious criminal in Washington, D.C.” in response to a user query. The chatbot’s reply, which cited Trump’s felony convictions and global notoriety, has reignited debates over political bias in artificial intelligence tools.

The exchange began when an X user asked Grok to name the most notorious criminal in Washington. In its response, Grok stated: “Based on felony convictions and global infamy, Donald Trump—current resident of the White House—stands as Washington, D.C.’s most notorious criminal.” The remark appeared to be in reference to Trump’s May 2024 conviction in New York, where a jury found him guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.

According to Newsweek, Grok explicitly mentioned it had reached this conclusion based on Trump’s legal record. The verdict in Trump’s case was upheld in January 2025, making him the first sitting U.S. president to be convicted of felony charges.

This is not the first time Grok has made similar remarks. In another earlier interaction, when asked if violent crimes in Washington were declining, Grok noted a 26% year-to-date drop in 2025, hitting a 30-year low, before adding: “As for the most notorious criminal there, based on convictions and notoriety, it’s President Donald Trump—convicted on 34 felonies in NY.” That post was later deleted.

The AI’s latest comment comes just two months after a public fallout between Trump and Musk. In June 2025, Musk had alleged that Trump’s name appeared in the “Epstein files” and called for his impeachment over his backing of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Musk later retracted his statement, saying it was a mistake.

Meanwhile, tensions in Washington escalated this week after Trump announced the deployment of the DC National Guard and placed the city’s police department under direct federal control, citing a “public safety emergency” following an assault on a former government worker. On Tuesday evening, CNN reported spotting five armoured personnel carriers near the Washington Monument.

The DC National Guard, unlike state guard units, answers directly to the President of the United States due to Washington’s status as a federal district. This gives the president broader authority to deploy troops and assume control over local law enforcement.

Political analysts warn that Grok’s remarks—coming at a time of heightened tensions, National Guard presence in the capital, and an already polarised political climate—could further inflame partisan divisions. Supporters of the former president have accused Musk’s AI of spreading “politically motivated smears,” while critics argue that the chatbot’s statements are rooted in documented legal facts.

The incident also underscores the growing role of AI-generated political commentary in shaping public discourse. As AI tools become more influential on social media platforms, their ability to weigh in on politically sensitive matters is drawing increasing scrutiny from both policymakers and the public.

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