This is a research prototype. The data and analyses are preliminary and not yet validated — we'd welcome your .
A deepfake video created by a YouTube channel using AI voice and face synthesis tools depicted Donald Trump mocking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Although the creator labeled the content as parody, the video went viral on Facebook and was perceived by some viewers as authentic, causing confusion and misinformation regarding the political figures' interactions.
In March 2025, an AI-generated deepfake video of Donald Trump criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his clothing circulated widely on Facebook. In the video, Trump mocks Zelenskyy by calling him "Temu Zelenskyy." The video was created by a parody YouTube channel using AI voice and face synthesis tools, but it was reportedly mistaken by some viewers as real.
Domain classification, causal taxonomy, severity scores, and national security assessments were LLM-classified and may contain errors.
AI systems that inadvertently generate or spread incorrect or deceptive information, which can lead to inaccurate beliefs in users and undermine their autonomy. Humans that make decisions based on false beliefs can experience physical, emotional or material harms
The AI system was used to generate a highly realistic but false video of a political figure making statements he never made, which misled social media users.
Human
Due to a decision or action made by humans
Intentional
Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal
Post-deployment
Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed
The incident was initiated by a human creator who intentionally used AI tools to generate a parody deepfake video of Donald Trump.
Added categories peak at 3: Substantial (Epistemic Harm, Inferred)
An AI-generated parody deepfake of Donald Trump mocking Volodymyr Zelenskyy went viral on Facebook, causing minor epistemic confusion among some users. The incident represents a low-level, human-driven misinformation event with minor national security implications, manageable through standard fact-checking and platform moderation procedures.
The AI system was used as a media synthesis tool to generate voiceovers and facial animations based on a human-written script, operating on direct inputs without autonomous planning.
Limited Risk: The system generated deepfake content, which under the EU AI Act requires clear disclosure to users that the content is artificially generated.
The AI system was used to synthesize Donald Trump's face and voice to create a deepfake video.
The report provides clear, verified facts from a reputable fact-checking organization, detailing the origin of the video, the technology used, and the reaction of social media users.
None
Technology
Generative AI Voice Cloning
AI voice cloning technology realistically replicated the subject's voice.
Deadpan Facial Expressions
AI video generation produced deadpan facial expressions typical of deepfakes.
Data Inputs
Real-world Events as Prompt Data
Actual Oval Office events were used to craft a highly plausible fake script.
Human Factors
User Confirmation Bias
Some viewers believed the fake video due to existing political biases.
Credulity of Social Media Users
Users shared the parody clip as real without verifying its authenticity.
Process and Methods
Lack of Context Preservation
The creator's parody disclaimer was lost when the video was shared.
Inadequate Platform Moderation
Facebook failed to detect and label the deepfake video as manipulated.
Regulatory Environment
Lack of Deepfake Labeling Mandates
No regulatory standards require mandatory labeling of AI-generated media.
AI system involved
An AI system was involved, but the reports do not identify it.
Identified by automated extraction; can differ from the alleged developers above.
