AI-Generated Video Falsely Depicts Trump Calling for Release of Nnamdi Kanu
A deepfake video circulated on social media in November 2024 depicting US President-elect Donald Trump calling for the Nigerian government to release Indigenous People of Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu. Fact-checkers verified the video as false, finding it combined clipped footage from unrelated Trump speeches with artificially generated audio mimicking his voice.
What happened
A video circulated on social media platforms including TikTok, X, and Facebook beginning November 16, 2024, purporting to show US President-elect Donald Trump calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
FactCheckAfrica verified the video as a deepfake created by combining video clips from a previous Trump speech on unrelated issues with artificially generated audio mimicking Trump's voice.
Reported impact
The video sparked debates among social media users and garnered thousands of views and comments, with some users praising Trump for his supposed intervention while others questioned its authenticity.
The video had potential to influence public opinion and fuel misinformation regarding both Trump's positions and the detention of Nnamdi Kanu by Nigerian authorities.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.