Debunked Video of Trump Calling for Biafran Independence Is AI-Generated

A viral video falsely depicts Donald Trump declaring intentions to assist Biafran secessionists. The footage, widely shared on social media, has been confirmed as AI-generated, with signs of manipulation evident upon review. Original content from 2021 shows Trump discussing a different topic, illustrating the risks of misinformation in political discourse.

A video claiming to show former President Donald Trump promising to ‘liberate’ secessionists in Nigeria has been determined to be generated by artificial intelligence. Circulating on Facebook since February 18, 2025, the video features Trump apparently declaring, “After I finish with the Ukraine war in Russia, I will turn to Nigeria to liberate the Igbo people of Biafra.” This claim has been amplified by the page ‘Republicans of United States of Biafra’, which advocates for Biafran independence.

Supporters of Biafra, a southeastern region of Nigeria, have long sought independence, recalling the violent history of the Biafran Civil War in the 1960s. Simon Ekpa, who identifies as the Biafran prime minister, was arrested in Finland in November 2024 for allegedly inciting violence. In addition, Nnamdi Kanu, the founder of the Biafra movement, is undergoing trial in Nigeria following his extradition from Kenya.

Analysis of the video reveals obvious signs of manipulation, with noticeable distortions around Trump’s mouth and chin, indicative of AI generation. Moreover, a watermark from a video creation website appears in the top corner, allowing users to produce clips of various public figures voicing custom text. The original clip, which this video has altered, features Trump discussing the January 6 Capitol attack and does not include any mention of Nigeria or Biafra.

In conclusion, the video purporting to show Donald Trump advocating for Biafran independence is fabricated using AI technology. Examination reveals inconsistencies typical of doctored media, and the original speech does not reference Nigeria. This incident underscores the concern surrounding misinformation, particularly related to sensitive political topics such as secessionist movements.

Original Source: factcheck.afp.com