Clip of Gaza as seaside resort posted on Trump’s social media accounts
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The video “Gaza 2025 What’s Next?” opens with people on a rubble-strewn street emerging from a tunnel onto a beach with palm trees and yachts.
SCREENSHOTS: INSTAGRAM/REALDONALDTRUMP
Follow topic:
Washington - US President Donald Trump’s official social media accounts posted an apparent artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video depicting war-ravaged Gaza rebuilt into a seaside resort, replete with a towering golden statue of himself.
The video, which racked up over 15 million views on Instagram and was shared thousands of times on Mr Trump’s Truth Social network by the morning of Feb 26, prompted some commenters to question whether the President’s accounts had been hacked.
The 33-second clip remained on Mr Trump’s accounts without denial or retraction hours after the initial posting on the night of Feb 25.
The video “Gaza 2025 What’s Next?” opens with people on a rubble-strewn street emerging from a tunnel onto a beach with palm trees and yachts.
Mr Trump has floated the idea of a US takeover of Gaza under which its Palestinian population would be relocated – a proposal that has triggered widespread criticism.
He later appeared to soften his plan, saying he was only recommending the idea, and conceded the leaders of Jordan and Egypt had rejected the proposal to move Palestinians against their will.
In the social media clip, the soundtrack includes the lyrics “Donald’s coming to set you free, bringing the light for all to see” and “feast and dance, the deal is done, Trump Gaza number one”.
Seemingly AI-generated renditions of Mr Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sip cocktails in swimsuits by a pool, while other shots show what appears to be Mr Elon Musk dancing under a shower of cash on the beach. A larger-than-life golden statue of Mr Trump is also featured.
Social media users reacted with both support and criticism, but many questioned whether Mr Trump himself had posted the montage.
AFP did not find any evidence the video had been shared online before it was posted to Mr Trump’s Truth Social and Instagram accounts.
Dancers and beards
One scene, however, closely resembles an AI-generated image of Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu drinking cocktails that began circulating in early February.
Another scene shows belly dancers shimmying on the beach.
More than 15 months of war, triggered by Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023 attack on Israel, have left much of the Gaza Strip in ruins and most of its population displaced.
In Gaza, people who watched the video were in disbelief.
“This video of Trump is full of fallacies and shows a lack of cultural awareness... Gaza won’t become a tourist spot like Italy or Spain,” said Mr Nasser Abu Hadaid, a 60-year-old resident of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
“What I know about Trump is that he is a strange but bold president who does what he says he will do. What matters to him is money and investments – there is no humanity,” said Ms Manal Abu Seif, a 23-year-old lawyer in Gaza City.
“Gaza needs freedom, open border crossings and jobs for young people, and is not a playground for tourism and investment,” she added.
UN estimates put the cost of reconstruction at more than US$53 billion (S$71 billion).
A fragile ceasefire in effect since Jan 19 has allowed an increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza, though Hamas has accused Israel of blocking the entry of some essential supplies. AFP
