DEEPFAKE VIDEO OF TRUMP AND ZELENSKY IN WWE-STYLE FIGHT SPREADS IN KIDS’ FEEDS
Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash
A deepfake video depicting former U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a fight inside the White House is currently circulating on social media. The video, which has gained traction on TikTok falsely portrays the Oval Office confrontation as a physical altercation.
The actual meeting, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, started off formally but quickly deteriorated into accusations and hostility. Trump reportedly told Zelensky he was “gambling with World War III,” while the Ukrainian president pressed for continued U.S. military support. The meeting ended abruptly, with Zelensky being asked to leave and a planned press conference being canceled, further signaling diplomatic strain.
According to CNN, the Oval Office meeting was marked by a tense and unprecedented verbal clash. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance accused Zelensky of not showing enough gratitude for U.S. military aid, with Vance calling him “disrespectful.” The heated exchange escalated until White House officials informed the Ukrainian delegation that the meeting was over. Plates of untouched food sat in a hallway as Zelensky and his team were instructed to leave, abruptly ending the diplomatic engagement. The scheduled press conference was canceled, and Trump later wrote on Truth Socialthat Zelensky would not be welcome back until he was “ready for peace.”
The deepfake video circulation is part of a broader disinformation ecosystem. The spread of such manipulated content is n example of how digital misinformation infiltrates news consumption, particularly among younger audiences.
The deepfake has spread rapidly, detaching the event from its original context and contributing to an alternative narrative online. Various versions of the video have emerged, ranging from overt satire to more ambiguous misinformation. Some edits lean into absurdity, such as clips where Trump takes a literal hit to the head from Zelensky, overlaid with the viral soundbite “I am an American bully…”—a remix that turns the deepfake into a punchline. Others insert the manipulated footage into existing meme classics, like the infamous “F** you bloody bastard b****”* clip, further blending misinformation with internet humor and fragments of popular culture.
Beyond the explicitly comedic takes, more AI-generated versions present the supposed fight in a different light. Some are framed with text overlays such as “What really happened behind the scenes” or “The full story,” implying access to hidden truths. While many of these edits are ironic, not all of them are equally transparent. The line between parody and deception becomes blurry, leaving viewers to navigate an ecosystem where irony and misinformation coexist.
This ambiguity is not just a byproduct of digital culture—it is often the point. In many cases, misinformation does not seek to replace the truth outright, but to saturate the information space with so many conflicting versions that distinguishing reality from fabrication becomes exhausting. Confusion itself becomes a form of engagement, drawing viewers into an endless cycle of speculation, remixing, and viral amplification.Misinformation thrives in moments of political tension, and the viral nature of this deepfake underscores how digital platforms have become battlegrounds for narrative control. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has long been accompanied by information warfare, and the distortion of political events through deepfakes adds another layer to this ongoing struggle.
According to the OECD AI Policy Observatory, multiple reports indicate that AI-generated deepfakes and false narratives targeting Ukrainian President Zelensky have surged amid Trump's policy shift. These reports conclude that “the disinformation, partly stemming from earlier Russian influence campaigns, risks undermining public trust and international support for Ukraine.”
For those who follow established news sources, the deepfake might seem absurd or irrelevant. But for younger audiences scrolling through their feeds, it appears alongside viral trends, memes, and reaction videos, becoming part of their daily content consumption.