Did Trump Ban Musk's Tesla In US? Viral Video Turns Out To Be Pure AI Fakery
A video showing US President Donald Trump supposedly announcing an immediate halt to Tesla vehicle production in America has been widely shared across social media platforms. The clip has gained traction amid a very public spat between Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. However, a detailed investigation by fact-checking site Factly has found the viral video to be completely artificial, created using AI tools and parody content.
The misleading video appears to ride on the back of ongoing tensions between Trump and Musk, which began after Musk criticised Trump’s latest tax-and-spending bill for cutting electric vehicle subsidies and inflating national debt. Trump retaliated with threats to cut federal contracts tied to Musk’s ventures. What started as a policy clash has now snowballed into a full-blown ideological rift, with Trump warning of “serious consequences” if Musk aligns with Democrats in the midterms, and Musk hinting at launching a new political movement.
AI Detection Tools Unmask the Truth
Factly ran a multi-layered verification process to assess the video's authenticity. An online keyword search yielded no credible news reports or official statements supporting the claim that Trump had banned Tesla production. Instead, reports referenced Trump’s decision to part ways with his personal Tesla Model S, which he had earlier bought in support of Musk.
Further scrutiny led Factly to an archived Instagram post dated June 8, 2025, on the account @dangerousaireturns, known for uploading AI-generated parody videos. The same content was also found on the creator’s YouTube and Facebook pages, all clearly labelled as hosting AI lip-sync material.
To verify the audio, Factly used HIVE AI detection, which found a 99.8% probability that the voiceover was AI-generated. Another tool, Deepfake-o-meter, independently confirmed that the clip had been created using AI technologies.
Original Video Had No Mention of Any Ban
The visuals used in the fake video were traced back to a legitimate event — a farewell video uploaded by ABC 10 News on May 31, 2025, titled Trump Honors Elon Musk on Final Day at White House. According to the video description, Trump had commended Musk’s role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), crediting him with billions in federal savings during his controversial tenure.
Factly reviewed both the video and the transcript in detail. At no point did Trump make any reference to banning Tesla production, let alone issuing an immediate directive.
Conclusion: The Viral Ban Video Is False
As Factly concludes, the viral video showing US President Donald Trump banning Tesla vehicle production is entirely false. The footage was manipulated using AI tools and uploaded by a parody account known for such content. There is no official record or credible news confirming any such ban.
This case underscores the rising challenge of AI-generated misinformation, particularly when political tensions are high. Always double-check before you believe what you see — or hear — online.
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