Trump has been depicted in AI-generated images on his Truth Social account as superheroes, ultra-muscular soldiers and even the Pope

The White House claimed no artificial intelligence was used in a video posted by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social page on Wednesday evening in tribute to Charlie Kirk, despite accusations across social media pointing to several telltale signs of AI manipulation.

The four-minute speech from the Oval Office was posted by Trump on Wednesday evening as a response to the public killing of right-wing activist and close associate of MAGA lawmakers, Charlie Kirk, who died by gunshot as he debated students at Utah Valley University.

The video appeared to show a president Trump lookalike reading from a script sitting at the Oval Office desk while his upper body appeared mostly motionless throughout. Several “cuts” in the video feed were pointed out by social media users, who claimed that at one point, Trump’s finger disappeared.

A White House spokesperson claimed, however, that “there was no AI used in this video.”

READ MORE: MSNBC host fired after ‘insensitive’ comments about fatal Charlie Kirk shootingREAD MORE: Haunting last words of Charlie Kirk before he was shot dead at Utah Valley university

“President Trump recorded a heartfelt message following the tragic assassination of his dear friend, Charlie Kirk,” they told the Daily Mail. “Anyone sharing deranged conspiracy theories should be ashamed of themselves.”

The White House did not immediately respond to The Irish Star request for comment on the matter.

Trump and his social media team, including White House Communications Director Stephen Cheung, frequently employ the use of AI in images and videos on the president’s page. Trump has been depicted as superheroes, ultra-muscular soldiers and even the Pope, among other generated videos and images.

In February, he posted an AI-generated video that depicted the Gaza Strip as a tropical, Dubai-style paradise with a topless Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump drinking cocktails on sun loungers. The video creator claimed the video was a piece of political satire, stemming from Trump’s statement that he wanted to turn the site of Palestinian genocide into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

Shortly after the shooting, Trump cast blame on the “radical left” for its alleged role in Kirk’s murder, even as the FBI and Utah authorities had no one in custody nor any identifying information on a suspect.

Kirk became a MAGA icon through his promotion of extreme conservative views and live debate series with college students.

Kirk was also a staunch gun rights advocate and NRA spokesperson, claiming in 2023 that while unfortunate, gun-related deaths are a worthy cost of retaining Second Amendment rights.

Many Republicans in the wake of his shooting have expressed agitation and horror at Democrats’ references to Kirk’s platform, to his past encouragement of politically-motivated violence, and to the party’s seemingly disproportionate reaction to victims of school shootings, in Gaza and in immigrant communities. Some Democrat lawmakers have also questioned whether the same grace was extended to the two Democratic Minnesota state senators and their partners who were shot in their homes two months ago by a gunman dressed as a police officer.

The president referred to Kirk in his Oval Office video as a “martyr” and called for all flags to be flown at half-mast in his honor. He later announced he would grant him a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom.

On Wednesday, the day of Kirk’s killing, a suspected gunman shot three students at Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, Colorado.

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