In the early hours of Wednesday, Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video on his Truth Social account depicting himself chasing, tackling, and embracing a tiger. This satirical recreation mimicked a tragic incident involving 23-year-old William Chapman, who was killed on October 10 after entering the enclosure of Altai, a Siberian tiger, at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, England.
The 23-second clip, which quickly spread across social media, shows Trump mimicking the gesture that witnesses described Chapman making before the attack. However, in Trump's version, he triumphs over the tiger and ends by hugging it as the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" plays in the background.
The White House has yet to provide any explanation for the release of this video.
The Backlash and Controversy
What intensified the controversy was the sequence of events: just hours before sharing the AI video, Trump had already posted the real footage of Chapman's fatal encounter to his roughly 13 million followers on Truth Social.
Chapman's family responded on Wednesday, condemning the circulating content as "deeply offensive" and requested that the images not be further disseminated to protect their privacy.
Criticism poured in from various quarters. Commentator Harry Sisson shared the video on X, remarking, "Trump actually posted this AI video with a tiger in the middle of the night. This man is deranged and mentally unstable," a post that garnered over 1.8 million views.
Journalist Piers Morgan labeled the video as being "in very poor taste" and demanded its removal. Even Rapid Response 47, a pro-Trump account with nearly 2.3 million followers, questioned the decision behind the post.
Details of the Fatal Tiger Incident
Chapman had leaped from an elevated observation walkway into the enclosure of Altai, a five-year-old Siberian tiger weighing around 190 kilograms. Witnesses reported that Chapman was wearing headphones, approached the animal, and lay down in front of it before being attacked.
A woman attempted to intervene but was unsuccessful. Park caretakers used air shots to distract the tiger while evacuating the area, but Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene. His family later disclosed that he had been suffering from a significant mental health condition.
Trump's Pattern with AI Content
The tiger video is part of a recurring pattern where Trump releases AI-generated content, often late at night with a provocative tone.
In September, the White House released an AI video depicting Trump as the superhero Green Lantern, which surpassed 19 million views. Earlier, in May, a mysterious clip titled "Fire. Boom." circulated, and in February 2025, he utilized AI-generated images to illustrate his plan for Gaza.
The forensic investigation into Chapman's death was scheduled to begin this Thursday, with the Yorkshire Wildlife Park remaining closed since the incident occurred.
Understanding Trump's Controversial AI Video
What did Donald Trump post on Truth Social?
Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video depicting himself tackling and embracing a tiger, which was a satirical take on a real-life incident involving the death of William Chapman in England.
Why did the video of Trump with a tiger cause outrage?
The video caused outrage because it was seen as mocking a tragic event where a young man, William Chapman, was killed by a tiger. Many found the video to be in poor taste and offensive to the victim's family.
How did the public react to Trump's AI video?
The public reacted with criticism and condemnation. The video was labeled as being in poor taste by various commentators and even by some who are typically supportive of Trump.