Former U.S. President Donald Trump ignited fresh political controversy on Sunday, July 21, 2025, after sharing an AI-generated deepfake video showing former President Barack Obama being arrested and jailed. The post, which appeared on his Truth Social account, comes at a time when concerns around misinformation, artificial intelligence (AI) misuse, and partisan propaganda are at an all-time high in the United States.

The video, originally posted on TikTok, shows a highly realistic but fabricated sequence in which Obama is seen being handcuffed by FBI agents in the Oval Office. The clip further portrays him inside a jail cell, dressed in the iconic orange prison jumpsuit typically associated with inmates. Meanwhile, Trump is seen watching the arrest unfold with a smile, accompanied by the song “YMCA” in the background.

Deepfake Begins With Political Slogans

The 45-second clip opens with edited clips of several Democratic leaders, including President Joe Biden, saying, “No one is above the law.” The video then cuts to a meme of Pepe the Frog with a clown face, honking its red nose—intended to mock the statement. From there, it cuts to the fictional arrest of Obama, adding a layer of sarcastic commentary and political satire.

This use of deepfake technology is highly sophisticated, and without close inspection, could appear real to the average viewer. This has sparked renewed debate over the ethical boundaries of AI-generated content, especially when circulated by prominent figures like Trump.

Mixed Social Media Reaction

Online reactions were intensely polarized. Trump supporters hailed the video as humorous or a political statement, while critics condemned it as irresponsible and misleading. The post amassed millions of views across social media platforms, further inflaming ongoing debates around fake news and online radicalization.

• A user from the account "MAGA Voice" reshared the video, saying: “I absolutely voted for this.”

• Nick Sortor, a well-known political commentator, urged: “Make this a reality.”

• Others like "Republicans Against Trump" warned that the video was an attempt to distract from other controversies, such as the Epstein investigation.

One particularly controversial post came from a user named Publius, who asked provocatively, “Will Obama be arrested?”—clearly treating the fictional narrative as a potential real event.

Trump's Election Fraud Allegations

The viral video comes in the wake of new allegations made by Trump, accusing Obama of being involved in high-level election fraud. These allegations are connected to the long-standing narrative around the 2016 Trump-Russia collusion investigation, which Trump claims was fabricated by Obama-era intelligence officials.

Former Congresswoman and now Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, added fuel to the controversy last week by stating that she had seen “striking and overwhelming evidence” of how Obama administration officials “weaponised intelligence” to undermine Trump’s presidency.

“Americans will finally learn the truth about how in 2016, intelligence was politicised and weaponised by the most powerful people in the Obama administration to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup,” Gabbard said on X (formerly Twitter).

She added that legal proceedings should begin against senior Obama-era officials, though she did not name individuals specifically.

ODNI Disputes Claims

Contradicting Gabbard’s claims, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released a 114-page document which reaffirmed that Russia did not directly impact the results of the 2016 U.S. elections through cyber activities. According to the report, even by December 8, 2016, intelligence agencies had found no actionable evidence of Russian interference affecting the voting outcomes.

AI Deepfakes in Political Warfare

This is not the first time AI deepfakes have entered mainstream U.S. politics, but this instance is particularly alarming because of the source: a sitting President. With the 2026 midterms approaching, many observers are concerned that such technology could undermine democratic processes by spreading realistic falsehoods at scale.

AI-generated videos like this one raise critical questions:

• Should politicians be held accountable for promoting deepfakes?

• Do existing US laws around political advertising and misinformation cover AI-generated content?

• How will social media platforms and government bodies respond to the growing threat of hyper-realistic misinformation?

At the moment, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and Congress have yet to implement binding regulations specifically targeting AI-generated political content.

Political Climate in the US

The atmosphere in U.S. politics continues to be deeply divided. Trump’s recent resurgence on Truth Social and the growing base of vocal online supporters reflect a continued battle for narrative control. Former President Obama has not publicly responded to the viral video as of the latest update.

The video’s timing also coincides with ongoing investigations into Trump’s own legal troubles, including:

• The Georgia election interference case,

• The classified documents probe,

• Multiple civil fraud and defamation suits.

Conclusion

The Trump-shared AI video of Obama’s arrest has sparked major debate around the use of deepfake technology, political misinformation, and partisan warfare. As AI becomes more accessible and powerful, so do the risks of its exploitation—especially in the hands of those with enormous political reach.

This incident serves as a warning: in an age where seeing is no longer believing, critical thinking and digital literacy are more important than ever.

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