Trump claims Iran used AI to fake footage of US carrier, buildings on fire

2026-03-16 - 19:52

US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that Iran used artificial intelligence (AI) to fabricate footage depicting the USS Abraham Lincoln on fire, as well as buildings burning across the Middle East. Pointing to claims of the US aircraft carrier being on fire, Trump said he "called the General: What's with the Abraham Lincoln looks like it's burning down?" "No, it's not burning down. Not a bullet was ever fired at it, sir," Trump quoted the general as saying. AI-generated propaganda The US president also said the footage showed "buildings in Tel Aviv burning to the ground, high rises burning. They showed buildings in Qatar. They showed buildings in Saudi Arabia burning, and they weren't burning." "They weren't hit. It was all AI," Trump added, noting that "this is my first glimpse of AI and what they've done with it." Trump also said Iran had shown "kamikaze boats" that he said do not exist, and suggested the AI efforts were tied to ongoing negotiations, saying, "I think that's the only thing they do well, they're negotiating." Iranian claims The US president's remarks came after the spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff claimed that USS Abraham Lincoln was "neutralized" on Saturday. Iran has regularly released footage and images claiming damage to US assets throughout the conflict, though many have been difficult to verify independently. Conflict context The AI allegations come as the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its 17th day, with over 1,300 killed according to Iranian authorities, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf states, while the information war has intensified alongside military operations.