Trump shares AI video showing Obama arrest amid renewed attacks on Obama-era officials
President Donald Trump on Sunday shared an AI-generated video falsely portraying former President Barack Obama being arrested and imprisoned, as part of a broader push to revive claims of misconduct by the Obama administration.
The video, originally created by a pro-MAGA TikTok user, was posted to Trump's Truth Social account. It features manipulated footage of Obama being taken into custody by the FBI during a 2016 meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, followed by scenes showing him in a prison jumpsuit. The footage is set to the Village People's 'YMCA,' a song frequently used at Trump rallies.
The video post came amid a broader campaign by Trump and his allies to reignite allegations against Obama-era officials. Over the weekend, Trump posted repeatedly about claims made by his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. On Friday, Gabbard announced she had referred several Obama-era officials to the Justice Department for prosecution, alleging they manipulated intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election.
She claimed newly declassified documents showed that the Obama administration 'politicized intelligence' to lay the groundwork for what she described as a 'years-long coup' against Trump.
Many Democrats have strongly rejected those allegations. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called the accusations unfounded and said it was 'an effort to cook the books.'
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump posted an AI video of Barack Obama being ARRESTED by FBI and rotting in a prison cell
MAKE THIS A REALITY, @AGPamBondi! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/E72YOBpcrO — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 20, 2025
Some critics, including within Trump's base, have questioned the timing of the announcement, suggesting it was an attempt to divert attention from renewed scrutiny over the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Despite that, Trump doubled down on his attacks, also posting edited images of former Obama officials in orange jumpsuits and suggesting Democratic Senator Adam Schiff should be imprisoned.
Trump, who was convicted in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, is currently appealing the verdict. Nevertheless, he continues to use his platform to push narratives against his political opponents—now increasingly with AI-generated media.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Social media and U-16s
Listen to article The Senate is considering a groundbreaking bill to ban social media access for children under 16, citing mental health risks, cyberbullying and predatory content. The bill would impose fines up to Rs5 million on non-compliant platforms and even jail time for adults aiding minors in setting up or using social media. But while safeguarding youth is a laudable goal, this proposal suffers from fatal flaws in enforcement and overreach, risking privacy and digital rights. Proponents rightly argue that social media exposes children to several harms, including anxiety and depression, vulnerability to exploitation and distraction from studies. The bill also aligns with global steps such as Australia's recent under-16 ban and the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, which mandates parental consent for minors to use several types of online services and products, including social media. The problem, however, is that the mechanics of age verification pose severe practical and ethical challenges. Requiring platforms like TikTok or Instagram to authenticate ages could force 16-year-olds to submit government IDs or biometric data. As seen in EU trials, such systems create honeypots for hackers and normalise surveillance. Meanwhile, Pakistan's own history of internet bans has made almost everyone familiar with VPNs. Tech-savvy teens will almost certainly find ways to circumvent age gates whenever they want. At the same time, PTA would need to audit millions of accounts — a herculean task for an agency already struggling with enforcing politicised censorship under PECA and related laws. The bill also overlooks nuances such as parental autonomy. Many argue that monitoring children's online activity should rest with families, not the state. Instead of unenforceable prohibitions, the government should invest in digital literacy programmes for schools and parents, including encouraging family rules for responsible social media use, and work with platforms and international partners to encourage platform accountability via transparent content moderation.
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Trump pulls US out of UN cultural agency UNESCO for second time
US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on July 22, 2025. Photo: AFP Listen to article President Donald Trump has decided to pull the United States out of the "woke" and "divisive" UN culture and education agency UNESCO, the White House said on Tuesday, repeating a move he took in his first term that was reversed by Joe Biden. The withdrawal from the Paris-based agency, which was founded after World War Two to promote peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture, will take effect at the end of next year. The move is in line with the Trump administration's broader "America-first" foreign policy, which includes a deep skepticism of multilateral groups, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and even the NATO alliance. Also Read: UN adopts Pakistan-sponsored resolution on 'peaceful dispute settlement' White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said UNESCO "supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for." The State Department accused UNESCO of supporting "a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy". It said its decision to admit the Palestinians as a member state was "highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric." UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said she deeply regretted Trump's decision, but it was "expected, and UNESCO has prepared for it". Soutien indéfectible à l'UNESCO, protecteur universel de la science, de l'Océan, de l'éducation, de la culture et du patrimoine mondial. Le retrait des États-Unis ne fera pas faiblir notre engagement aux côtés de celles et ceux qui portent ce combat. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 22, 2025 Posting on X, French President Emmanuel Macron professed "unwavering support" for the "universal protector" of world heritage and said the US move would not weaken France's commitment for UNESCO. UNESCO officials said the US withdrawal would have some limited impact on US-financed programs. Azoulay said UNESCO had diversified funding sources, receiving only about 8% of its budget from Washington. UNESCO was one of several international bodies Trump withdrew from during his first term, along with the World Health Organization, the Paris Agreement climate change accord and the UN Human Rights Council. During his second term, he has largely reinstated those steps. Trump's pick to be his UN envoy, Mike Waltz, said this month the United Nations needs reform while expressing confidence that "we can make the UN great again." Israel praises US 'moral support and leadership' Israel welcomed the US decision with its UN, ambassador Danny Danon accusing UNESCO of "consistent misguided anti-Israel bias." In a post on X, Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, thanked Washington for its "moral support and leadership" and said that "Singling out Israel and politicization by member states must end, in this and all professional UN agencies." We welcome the US administration's decision to withdraw from UNESCO. This is a necessary step, designed to promote justice and Israel's right for fair treatment in the UN system, a right which has often been trampled due to politicization in this arena. Singling out Israel and… — Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) July 22, 2025 UNESCO officials said all relevant agency statements had been agreed with both Israel and the Palestinians over the past eight years. Azoulay said the US had given the same reasons for its pullout as it had seven years ago "even though the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism." "These claims also contradict the reality of UNESCO's efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism," she added. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is best known for designating World Heritage Sites, including the US Grand Canyon and Egypt's pyramids. It lists 26 sites in the United States, including the Statue of Liberty, on its World Heritage List which highlights 1,248 global locations of "outstanding universal value." Read: Monsoon devastation continues as death toll reaches 242 Washington has had a troubled relationship with UNESCO over the years. It was a founding member in 1945 but first withdrew in 1984 to protest alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-US bias during the Cold War. It returned in 2003 under President George W. Bush, who said UNESCO had undertaken needed reforms, but in 2011 the Obama administration announced it was stopping funding for the agency following its vote to grant the Palestinians full membership. Trump's first administration announced in 2017 it was quitting after accusing UNESCO of anti-Israeli bias, with Washington owing $542 million in dues, before former President Biden reversed the decision in 2023.
Business Recorder
7 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Trump pulls US out of UN cultural agency UNESCO for second time
PARIS/WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the U.N. culture and education agency UNESCO on Tuesday, repeating a move he had already ordered during his first term, which had been reversed under Joe Biden. The withdrawal from the Paris-based agency, which was founded after World War Two to promote peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture, will take effect on December 31, 2026. 'President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO – which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November,' White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said. The State Department said remaining in UNESCO was not in the national interest, accusing it of having 'a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy'. UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said she deeply regretted Trump's decision, but that it was 'expected, and UNESCO has prepared for it'. The agency had diversified its sources of funding, receiving only about 8% of its budget from Washington, she said. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X: 'Unwavering support for UNESCO, universal protector of science, the ocean, education, culture, and world heritage.' 'The withdrawal of the United States will not weaken our commitment to those who are fighting this battle.' UNESCO was one of several international bodies Trump withdrew from during his first term, along with the World Health Organization, the Paris Agreement global climate change accord and the U.N. Human Rights Council. During his second term, he has largely reinstated those steps. UNESCO officials said the U.S. withdrawal would have some limited impact on programs the United States was financing. Tensions? Israel welcomed the U.S. decision to quit UNESCO. The U.S. State Department said one of the reasons for the withdrawal was UNESCO's decision to admit Palestine as a member state, which was 'contrary to U.S. policy and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.' UNESCO officials said all relevant agency statements had been agreed with both Israel and the Palestinians over the past eight years. 'The reasons put forward by the United States to withdraw from the Organization are the same as seven years ago even though the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism,' Azoulay said. 'These claims also contradict the reality of UNESCO's efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism.' Diplomats said it was felt at UNESCO that the withdrawal was inevitable for political reasons, given that Biden had brought the U.S. back and had promised to repay arrears from the first time Trump pulled out. UNESCO, whose full name is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is best known for designating World Heritage Sites, including the Grand Canyon in the United States and the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria. The United States initially joined UNESCO at its founding in 1945 but withdrew for the first time in 1984 in protest against alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-U.S. bias, returning in 2003 under President George W. Bush, who said the agency had undertaken needed reforms.
