President Donald Trump sparked controversy early Wednesday by sharing an artificial intelligence-generated video showing him laughing alongside "TRUMP 2028" campaign hats piled on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
Trump turned to official X and posted the video at 3:30 a.m. ET, October 2, 2025 which later went viral, depicting the president gesturing humorously while an unidentified man in a gray suit pointed at the merchandise, with the scene also featuring a Coca-Cola glass, telephones, and U.S. and Space Force flags.
The digitally created clip references Trump's September 30, 2025 meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, during which the president reportedly placed the campaign hats as props during critical discussions about averting a government shutdown.
The video quickly amassed more than 10 millions of viewers and received 141,000 likes, drawing polarized reactions from supporters and critics alike.
Trump's decision to share the synthetic media during ongoing budget negotiations attracted particular scrutiny, with supporters celebrating the post's humorous tone while opponents questioned its timing amid serious fiscal discussions.
The viral clip shows one of the most prominent uses of AI-generated content by a sitting president for political messaging, blurring lines between official communication and campaign activity.