- US President Donald Trump shared a video of a man being fatally mauled by a tiger at a British wildlife park
- The White House's official 'Rapid Response 47' account also shared the disturbing incident on X
- South Africans joined the global backlash against Trump's posts, calling out his disrespect for the victim's family
Source: Getty Images
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
WASHINGTON, DC — United States President Donald Trump published footage on his Truth Social account showing a man being fatally mauled by a tiger at a British wildlife park, prompting a wave of criticism across social media.
The 41-second clip captured the real attack, which took place on Saturday at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster in northern England. British police were called to the park following reports that a man had entered the tiger enclosure.
The victim, identified by the BBC as William Chapman, later died from his injuries. Trump captioned his original post "Don't ever mess with nature!" The White House's official Rapid Response 47 account on X subsequently shared the same clip, amplifying its reach significantly.
Trump doubles down with AI-generated videos
Rather than withdrawing the content, Trump escalated his posts.
He followed the original clip with an AI-generated video showing people being mauled by big cats, set to a synthesiser soundtrack. Later on Tuesday, he shared a second AI-generated clip depicting himself wrestling and befriending a smiling tiger, set to the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".
How did South Africans react?
The sequence of posts drew sharp criticism, with many accusing the president of mocking a grieving family. South Africans were among those who also condemned Trump's conduct online.
Lynley Cornelius-Beukes wrote:
"I'm not surprised. He has no respect for anyone with disabilities or any vulnerable people. That man was autistic, and he has a family who is mourning, and this pumpkin thinks he is funny to post that again while so many social media platforms removed it."
Liz Rudy said:
"So disrespectful to the family of the deceased.
Mark Andrews remarked:
"Despicable, but this is Trump, so the only people who could be shocked by this post are those who've been in a coma for the last decade."
Morné Van Der Berg questioned the president's intent, asking simply:
"So what exactly was his point?"
Maurice Khendla added:
"He is a sadistic man and this is typical behaviour."
Saud Abrahams simply stated:
"Senile."
Other stories about Trump that got people talking
- Trump promised a $5,000 payout to every American who voted for Republicans if they were to win the midterm elections.
- The US President arrived in Morristown, New Jersey, sporting noticeably darker hair than his signature golden-blond shade.
- Trump explained why he wanted FIFA President Gianni Infantino as the next United Nations Secretary-General.
Source: Briefly News
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