US President Donald Trump has sparked widespread criticism after posting an AI-generated video of himself wrestling with a tiger, hours after sharing footage of a British man being fatally attacked by the animal at a wildlife park in England.
The victim, identified as William Chapman, died on Saturday, October 10, after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster.
Trump initially shared footage of the fatal attack on his Truth Social platform, accompanying it with the caption: “Don’t ever mess with nature!”
He later posted an AI-generated video showing himself wrestling with a tiger before embracing the animal, with the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight playing in the background.
The video has prompted criticism, with many people interpreting it as mocking the tragedy and the man who lost his life.
British broadcaster LBC has also weighed in on the controversy, describing Trump’s actions as “inexcusable” and questioning why the president was focusing on such content rather than addressing pressing issues facing Americans.
Commentary on LBC highlighted the rising cost of living, including petrol prices reportedly reaching $6 per gallon in some areas, alongside the wider economic and political consequences of the war involving Iran.
The controversy has intensified concerns about the appropriateness of sharing distressing material involving a fatal incident, particularly when the victim’s family is still grieving.
Chapman’s family has expressed deep distress over the circulation of content relating to his death and has appealed to people to stop sharing material they consider deeply offensive.
Trump’s posts have therefore triggered a broader debate about the responsibility of public figures when commenting on tragic events and the impact their social media activity can have on grieving families.