Glitch in Trump’s Charlie Kirk Address Sparks AI Deepfake Rumors

President Trump’s four-minute Oval Office video honoring slain activist Charlie Kirk drew widespread speculation today when viewers noted unusual glitches, fueling claims the clip was AI-generated.

The malfunctioning hand movements and frozen body led social media users to question the authenticity of the footage and reignited debates over deepfake technology’s impact on political communication.

Speculation Over AI Use Numerous posts on X highlighted a sudden twitch in Trump’s right hand around the 19-second mark and a near-static torso throughout the address, prompting users to brand the message an “AI avatar” rather than a genuine speech. Clips from WhatsApp and Telegram groups circulated rapidly, with some alleging the White House deployed synthetic video to avoid public appearances amid heightened security around Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

Expert Analysis Identifies Editing Technique Video editor Alld (@balld) debunked the deepfake theory in a viral TikTok, attributing the anomalies to a “morph cut,” a conventional splice-smoothing tool that bridges uneven takes by generating transitional frames. He explained the effect is often used to eliminate filler words and ensure fluid delivery, not to create avatars or synthetic likenesses.

White House Response and Political Fallout The White House has neither confirmed nor denied use of AI, instead emphasizing the president’s condemnation of the “radical left” for inciting political violence following Kirk’s killing. Trump’s team urged viewers to focus on the message’s substance, as flags were ordered to half-staff in Kirk’s honor and a federal manhunt continues for the shooting suspect.

Deepfake Concerns in the Digital Age The incident underscores growing unease over deepfake proliferation and the so-called “liar’s dividend,” where actors can deflect accountability by blaming AI for manipulated content. Experts warn such claims risk eroding public trust in authentic audio-visual records, threatening accountability in political discourse.