Eric Trump, son of US President Donald Trump, has strongly denied the authenticity of screenshots circulating online that appeared to show him asking a UFC commentator about the potential rigging of fights. Mr Trump, 42, labelled the images as "AI-generated" and "completely fake," stating he had never communicated with Daniel Cormier, the UFC commentator involved.
The alleged exchange surfaced when Cormier, a former UFC champion, posted screenshots on X (formerly Twitter) of a purported conversation. The messages, from an account claiming to be Eric Trump, queried whether any fighters were injured and if any of the bouts at the upcoming White House event would be "rigged." Cormier's initial post, which expressed his refusal to "stay silent" on the matter, was subsequently deleted.
Following Mr Trump's vehement denial, Cormier also appeared to cast doubt on the posts' authenticity, asking "are people this dumb?" to which Mr Trump replied "thanks Daniel." Mr Trump reiterated his position on X, stating, "We are aware of the fake, AI generated screenshots being circulated online. I have never spoken to Daniel. He has since deleted his post, which confirms it was clearly fabricated."
The controversy unfolded just before the historic UFC Freedom 250 event, which took place on the White House's South Lawn. The event, held on President Trump's 80th birthday, was part of broader celebrations marking 250 years of American independence. Eric Trump, who serves as the executive vice-president of his father's administration, was present in Washington D.C. to attend the unprecedented sporting spectacle.
While the immediate focus is on the authenticity of the screenshots, this incident highlights a growing concern regarding the proliferation of AI-generated content and its potential to spread misinformation. The ease with which convincing fake images and conversations can be created poses a significant challenge for public figures and media organisations alike, as distinguishing genuine from fabricated content becomes increasingly difficult.