A video featuring Donald Trump vowing to ‘liberate’ Nigerian secessionists has been proven to be AI-generated. The footage has circulated widely on social media, despite showing clear signs of manipulation. Previous authentic videos from 2021 show Trump discussing unrelated events. Pro-Biafra activists continue to spread rumors regarding foreign support for their cause, which are unsubstantiated.
A video purporting to show former President Donald Trump pledging to liberate secessionists in Nigeria has been confirmed as AI-generated. The clip, which has gained traction on social media since its publication on February 18, 2025, inaccurately depicts Mr. Trump stating he would focus on Nigeria after addressing issues in Ukraine. This disinformation has been propagated by a Facebook page titled “Republicans of United States of Biafra,” which advocates for Biafran independence, a cause rooted in Nigeria’s historical conflicts in the region.The AI-generated video shows significant visual anomalies, particularly around Mr. Trump’s mouth and chin. Such characteristics suggest manipulation, indicative of the technology used to create this footage. Furthermore, a watermark from an AI-based content generation website supports the conclusion that the video is not legitimate. Previous investigations have traced the origin of this specific footage back to a CNBC video from January 14, 2021, wherein Mr. Trump was discussing the Capitol riots and did not mention Nigeria or Biafra at all. The false claims surrounding the supposed endorsement of Biafran secession by foreign governments continue to circulate among pro-Biafra activists.
In summary, the video inaccurately attributed to Donald Trump regarding Biafran secessionists has been verified as AI-generated and manipulated content. Despite its widespread sharing, it does not represent any authentic statements made by the former president. The use of AI technology in creating misleading videos highlights the growing challenges of misinformation in the digital age. Claims of international support for Biafra’s independence remain unfounded.
Original Source: factcheck.afp.com
