White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has described Donald Trump posting a debunked conspiracy theory as “refreshing.”
On Saturday, September 27, Trump shared and then deleted an AI-generated video of himself promoting “medbed hospitals,” which do not exist.
The conspiracy theory is popular in the QAnon movement, with believers even claiming that the sci-fi-like technology has kept John F. Kennedy alive all these years.
Highlights
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Trump sharing a debunked medbed conspiracy video "refreshing" and praised his social media transparency.
- Trump posted and deleted an AI-generated video promoting fictional "medbed hospitals," a conspiracy popular in QAnon circles.
- The medbed conspiracy claims the tech can cure all illnesses and has kept figures like JFK alive, but it has been widely debunked.
Karoline Leavitt defended Donald Trump posting the medbed conspiracy
Image credits: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Other miracle cures that conspiracy theorists tout are that medbeds can cure all illnesses and help humans regenerate organs.
While widely debunked, the theory still circulates, and believers claim that those in power have access to the advanced technology but are withholding it from the masses.
Some even took Trump’s post as a sign that he was trying to inform the American public of the existence of medbeds.
Trump’s post used AI to mock up a Fox News segment with his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who announced that the president was giving all Americans access to a “medbed card.”
The clip then cut to the White House, where an AI Trump gave a short speech about medbeds and showed fake footage of a medbed hospital.
When the segment cut back to Lara, she announced there would be a limited release of cards at first.
“Every American will soon receive their own medbed card,” Trump said in the clip. “With it, you’ll have guaranteed access to our new hospitals led by the top doctors in the nation, equipped with the most advanced technology in the world.”
Trump’s sharing of the clip sparked huge backlash, with many social media users questioning if the president actually believed the clip was real.
At a White House press briefing this week, one reporter asked Leavitt why Trump had shared the clip and then deleted it.
“I think the president saw the video, posted it, and then took it down, and he has the right to do that. It’s his social media,” Leavitt said.
“He’s incredibly transparent, as you all know. You hear from him directly on social media, he likes to share memes, he likes to share videos, he likes to repost things that he sees other people post on social media as well.
“I think it’s quite refreshing that we have a president who is so open and honest.”
Leavitt’s response did not answer any of the questions that have been mounting since Trump shared the clip.
As well as sparking backlash, Trump’s AI clip was also mocked by his opponents and late-night TV show hosts.
As well as sparking backlash, Trump’s AI clip was also mocked by his opponents and late-night TV show hosts.
Trump was trolled after posting the clip
Image credits: Win McNamee/Getty Images
In a segment, Seth Meyers responded to the post and suggested Trump may have been duped by AI into believing he had actually made the medbed announcement before sharing it.
It was also picked up on by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been mimicking Trump’s own social media style to relentlessly troll the president.
“Trump is about to shut down the government and rip health care from 20 million Americans,” Newsom’s press office wrote on X.
“What’s he doing? Posting AI-generated slop about ‘miracle hospital beds’ that cure all illness. DONALD TRUMP HAS LOST IT.”