Deepfake Video of MLK Jr. Endorsing Trump Spreads on Social Media
AI was used to create a deepfake video falsely showing civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. endorsing Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The video was shared by pro-Trump social media accounts and reached thousands of users before MLK Jr.'s daughter Bernice King publicly denounced it as vile and demanded its removal.
What happened
A deepfake video showing Martin Luther King Jr. endorsing Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election was created and shared on social media. The video, which used AI to synthesize King's likeness and voice, claimed that King praised Trump as beneficial for the Black community and criticized Democrats.
The video was originally posted in February 2024 by @Ramble_Rants, a member of the 'Dilley Meme Team,' a pro-MAGA movement. It was reposted on November 3, 2024, by @MAGAResource, at which point Bernice King, MLK Jr.'s daughter, demanded its removal.
Reported impact
Bernice King condemned the deepfake as 'vile, fake, irresponsible, and not at all reflective of what my father would say,' stating that the creators 'gave no thought to our family.' She called for immediate deletion of the video.
The original post accumulated over 1,300 likes and nearly 800 reposts, potentially spreading the fabricated content to a wide audience ahead of the 2024 general election.
Index analysis
The deepfake used AI video synthesis technology to alter King's appearance and voice, enabling the creation of realistic-appearing but entirely fabricated statements attributed to a deceased historical figure.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.