US President Donald Trump's official social media accounts posted an apparent AI-generated video depicting war-ravaged Gaza rebuilt into a seaside resort, replete with a towering golden statue of himself, causing a backlash on his Truth Social platform and global forums.
The video, which racked up over 10.5 million views on Instagram and was shared 2,400 times on Trump's Truth Social network by Wednesday morning, prompted some commenters to question whether the president's accounts had been hacked.
The 33-second clip remained on Trump's accounts without denial or retraction hours after the initial posting on Tuesday night. The video "Gaza 2025 What's Next?" opens with people on a rubble-strewn street emerging from a tunnel onto a beach with palm trees and yachts.
Trump has floated the idea of a US takeover of Gaza under which its Palestinian population would be relocated -- a proposal that has triggered widespread criticism.
He later appeared to soften his plan, saying he was only recommending the idea, and conceded the leaders of Jordan and Egypt had rejected the proposal to move Palestinians against their will.
In the social media clip, the soundtrack includes the lyrics "Donald's coming to set you free, bringing the light for all to see" and "feast and dance, the deal is done, Trump Gaza number one."
Seemingly AI-generated renditions of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sip cocktails in swimsuits by a pool, while other shots show what appears to be Elon Musk dancing under a shower of cash on the beach. A larger-than-life golden statue of Trump is also featured.
Social media users reacted with both support and criticism, but many questioned whether Trump himself had posted the montage.
A UN expert and Amnesty International official slammed the video. UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian human rights Francesca Albanese slammed the video as "absurd" in a post on X.
"What the new US administration is doing is very clear and strategic: it is called psychological overwhelming. Hitting us every day with XXL doses of baffling rhetoric and erratic policies serves to 'control the script', distracting and disorienting us, normalising the absurd, all while disrupting global stability (and consolidating US control)."
With additional input from News Desk
1730967569-0/BeFunky-collage-(28)1730967569-0-270x192.webp "elon musk applauds jeff bezos washington post policy shift with one word")
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ