Trump Under Fire for Sharing Alleged AI-Generated Video of Deadly Drug Boat Strike

President Donald Trump is facing significant scrutiny after sharing a video purported to show a U.S. military airstrike on a vessel carrying drugs from Venezuela. A high-ranking Venezuelan official has vehemently claimed the dramatic footage, posted by Trump, was “generated by AI,” sparking a new wave of debate surrounding digital authenticity and official communications.

Venezuelan Official Alleges “Cartoonish” AI Footage

The controversy ignited when Freddy Nanez, Venezuela’s communications minister, publicly challenged the authenticity of the clip shared by Trump on Truth Social. Nanez suggested the video, which reportedly depicts a strike in international waters that resulted in 11 fatalities, appeared “cartoonish” and lacked realistic detail characteristic of genuine footage.

According to Nanez, the visual evidence within the video points to artificial generation. He noted, “The video shows a ship being attacked and then exploding in a way that looks like a simplified, almost cartoonish animation, rather than a realistic depiction of an explosion.” He further elaborated, highlighting “motion artifacts and a lack of realistic detail, which is common in AI-generated videos. The water, in particular, looks very stylized and unnatural.”

Trump’s Announcement and Firm Warning

President Trump unveiled the video during a White House briefing, his first official public appearance in a week. He announced that the U.S. military had successfully targeted a “drug-carrying boat” originating from Venezuela. Trump asserted that those aboard the vessel were members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. in February.

Accompanying the video on social media, Trump issued a stark warning: “Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE! Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!!!!!!!!!”

Widespread Sharing and Protocol Questions

The contentious video was not only shared by the former president but also disseminated by several high-profile Trump administration officials, including then-Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, amplifying its reach and the subsequent questions about its origin.

Beyond the AI allegations, the video’s content raised concerns among experienced professionals. John Feeley, a former U.S. ambassador to Panama with a background in Latin American anti-drug operations, commented on the footage. While not directly addressing the AI claims, Feeley stated that the shared video did not align with standard U.S. Coast Guard protocols for interdicting suspected narcotics vessels.

“Everything is done to preserve life,” Feeley explained, emphasizing the priority on minimizing casualties during such operations. “What we don’t do is just shoot up boats like Netflix likes to pretend. We can shoot in self-defense, but we rarely do that because most narcos just give up.”

Independent Verification and Official Silence

In response to the growing skepticism, news agency Reuters conducted initial checks on the video. Their report indicated no immediate evidence of manipulation, though they underscored that “thorough verification is an ongoing process” and that further review would continue as more information emerged.

The Pentagon, when asked for comment on the allegations, referred inquiries to the White House, which has not yet issued a direct response regarding the AI claims or the specific details of the strike.

Irony in AI Claims

Adding a layer of irony to the controversy, President Trump recently dismissed bizarre viral footage showing items being thrown from a White House window as “probably AI-generated.” He claimed the building’s windows are heavily armored and bullet-proofed, making such an action impossible. This previous statement directly contradicted an earlier White House explanation that confirmed the video’s authenticity, attributing it to a contractor performing routine maintenance.

The incident highlights a growing concern over the proliferation of AI-generated content and the challenges in discerning truth from fiction in the digital age, especially when disseminated by influential public figures.