US President Donald Trump has drawn attention on social media after sharing an AI-generated video depicting himself wrestling with and embracing a tiger, hours after posting footage of a man being fatally attacked by a tiger at a wildlife park in northern England.
The contrasting videos, shared on Trump's Truth Social account, have raised questions about his decision to circulate graphic footage of a real-life tragedy alongside seemingly humorous, artificially generated content.
The incident occurred at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, where a 23-year-old man, identified in media reports as William Chapman, died after entering a tiger enclosure on October 10. Trump shared footage of the attack on Tuesday, October 13, with the caption, “Don't ever mess with nature! President DJT.”
AI-generated video shows Trump playing with tiger
In a subsequent post, Trump shared an apparently AI-generated clip showing him chasing a tiger, wrestling with the animal and eventually embracing it. The video, which appears to mimic elements of the real-life incident, ends with Trump hugging the big cat as the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” plays in the background.
The clip was shared amid a flurry of late-night posts on the president's social media account. Trump also posted a separate montage apparently showing people being attacked by lions, accompanied by an upbeat soundtrack. Some of the footage circulating in connection with the incident has been identified as potentially AI-generated.
The sequence of posts drew attention because the AI-generated clip followed footage of a fatal attack in which a man was mauled by a tiger after entering its enclosure.
Family urges people to stop sharing attack footage
Chapman's family has appealed to the public to stop circulating videos of the incident, saying the online content was causing them severe distress at an exceptionally difficult time.
In a statement, the family said they were devastated by his death and asked people to respect their privacy. They described Chapman as a “bright, warm and engaging young man” who was dearly loved by his family.
The family also disclosed that Chapman had experienced significant mental health difficulties over several years and had been prescribed strong medication. They said it would be for the coroner to determine whether this played any role in the incident.
The appeal came after footage of the attack spread across social media platforms, including clips that reportedly showed Chapman approaching the tiger enclosure. Police have advised people against sharing the videos, while the circulation of apparently fabricated footage has added to concerns over the spread of misleading content following the tragedy.
Investigation underway at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Emergency services were called to Yorkshire Wildlife Park shortly after 1.30 pm on October 10, after Chapman entered the tiger enclosure. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The park was evacuated following the incident and remained closed as authorities began investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. Doncaster Council, which is responsible for licensing the facility, has launched a health and safety investigation and is working with the police and other agencies.
The tiger involved in the attack, an endangered Amur tiger named Altai, was not injured and remained inside the enclosure during the incident. The wildlife park has confirmed that the animal will not be euthanised.
The case has prompted renewed attention to the circulation of graphic footage of fatal incidents online, particularly when real events are shared alongside AI-generated material. Trump's posts have brought that issue into sharper focus, as Chapman's family continues to appeal for the videos to stop circulating while the investigation proceeds.