Sunita Somvanshi
A video showing President Donald Trump announcing a ban on Tesla production in the United States has been spreading across social media. But here’s the truth: this video is completely fake.
The AI-generated deepfake shows Trump at a podium saying he’s banning all Tesla production in America “effective immediately.” In the video, Trump calls Elon Musk a “snake” who “stabbed him in the back” and claims Tesla cars are “junk” that “catch fire and break down easily.”
Fact-checkers have confirmed this video is false. When run through AI detection tools like Hive Moderation, the video scored a 99.8% likelihood of being AI-generated. The audio particularly shows signs of advanced voice cloning technology.
The original footage actually comes from a real event where Trump honored Elon Musk at the White House for his work as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. In that genuine video, Trump never mentioned anything about banning Tesla or criticizing Musk.
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The deepfake was created by a parody content creator who regularly posts AI-generated lip-sync videos. Their Instagram account (@dangerousaireturns) clearly labels their content as AI-generated parody.
This fake video gained traction partly because Trump and Musk have had a complex public relationship. While they’ve worked together in the past, they’ve also had public disagreements, particularly over a tax-and-spending bill that cut electric vehicle subsidies. This background made the fake scenario seem more believable to some viewers.
The spread of this deepfake highlights a growing problem: increasingly realistic AI-generated videos that can fool viewers. These sophisticated fakes are becoming harder to spot, creating serious challenges for maintaining trust in what we see online.
No credible news sources or official statements support any claim that Trump has banned or plans to ban Tesla production in the United States. Reports that Trump no longer wants the Tesla Model S he purchased have also been denied.
As AI technology advances, this case serves as an important reminder to verify information before believing or sharing dramatic claims, especially those involving public figures. When in doubt, check multiple reliable news sources before accepting a video as authentic.
