Trump Accuses Iran of Using AI to Spread Disinformation

President claims Iran is using artificial intelligence to mislead public about wartime successes and support

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:53pm by Ben Kaplan

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U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of using artificial intelligence as a 'disinformation weapon' to misrepresent its wartime successes and support. Trump cited several instances where he claimed Iran used AI to falsely depict events, including showing 'kamikaze boats' that do not exist, a successful attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, and a rally with 250,000 supporters that never took place.

Why it matters

The allegations highlight growing concerns about the use of AI and social media to spread misinformation, especially during times of conflict. Trump's comments also reflect ongoing tensions between the U.S. government and media outlets over coverage of the war with Iran.

The details

In a social media post and comments to reporters, Trump accused Iran of using AI to mislead the public about its wartime activities. He claimed Iran showed 'kamikaze boats' that do not exist, falsely depicted a successful attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln, and fabricated images of a 250,000-person rally supporting the new Supreme Leader. While Iran has made some claims about military successes that were not widely reported, Trump did not provide evidence that AI was used to create these false depictions.

  • On March 15, 2026, Trump made the accusations against Iran on his Truth Social platform and in comments to reporters on Air Force One.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States who has frequently accused media outlets of spreading 'fake news' and threatened to revoke their broadcasting licenses.

Mojtaba Khamenei

The new Supreme Leader of Iran following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Brendan Carr

The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission who threatened to pull licenses of broadcasters that did not 'correct course' on their coverage of the U.S.-Iran war.

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What they’re saying

“AI can be very dangerous, we have to be very careful with it.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (Air Force One)

“We have to be very careful with it.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (Air Force One)

What’s next

The FCC Chairman's threat to pull broadcasting licenses of outlets that do not 'correct course' on their Iran war coverage could lead to further escalation between the government and media.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing challenge of combating AI-powered disinformation, especially during times of geopolitical tension. It also reflects the ongoing battle between the Trump administration and the media over coverage deemed unfavorable by the president.