US President Donald Trump has sparked controversy after sharing an AI-generated video of himself wrestling with and hugging a tiger, hours after reposting footage of a fatal tiger attack at a wildlife park in England. Trump initially shared a video on Tuesday, October 13, showing a Siberian tiger attacking 23-year-old William Chapman at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster over the weekend. He accompanied the clip with the message, “Don’t ever mess with nature!”
Around eight hours later, Trump posted an AI-generated video showing himself chasing the animal before playfully wrestling with it and pulling it into a bear hug. The clip featured the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight but carried no accompanying message.
The posts came as Chapman’s family appealed to the public to stop circulating footage of the attack, saying the material was causing them severe distress as they struggled to cope with his death.
Chapman’s Family Condemns Circulation Of Attack Footage
In a statement released on Tuesday, the family described themselves as devastated by the loss and criticised the circulation of what they called “deeply offensive media content”.
They said Chapman had suffered from significant mental illness for several years and had been prescribed strong medication. The family said it would be for the coroner to determine what role, if any, his condition and medication played in his death.
They also urged people to respect the investigation and allow authorities to establish why Chapman entered the tiger enclosure.
Chapman died on Saturday, October 10, after entering the enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The family described him as a bright and warm young man whom they dearly loved.
Trump Shares AI Tiger Video After Warning
Trump’s AI-generated video depicted him in a blue suit and red tie, rising from the ground and approaching the tiger before embracing it. The post followed his warning against interfering with nature and the sharing of the actual attack footage.
Will Travers, executive president of the Born Free Foundation, criticised the AI-generated clip, describing it as insensitive and warning that such imagery could encourage dangerous interactions with captive wild animals.
He said portraying close contact with wild animals as entertainment could put both people and animals at risk.
Trump has regularly shared AI-generated content on Truth Social during his second term, including images and videos depicting himself in exaggerated or fictional scenarios.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has remained closed since the incident. The tiger, an Amur tiger named Altai, will not be euthanised, according to the park. Doncaster City Council has launched a health and safety investigation, while an inquest into Chapman’s death is scheduled to open at Doncaster Coroner’s Court on Thursday, October 15.
