White House Accused of Using AI to Fabricate Hockey Player's Insults

Deepfake video of player's comments sparks outrage and questions about government's use of generative AI technology

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:37am

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The White House has been accused of using AI deepfake technology to alter video footage and put offensive words in the mouth of Canadian hockey player Brady Tkachuk. The doctored video, posted on the official White House TikTok account, claimed Tkachuk insulted Canadian fans after the U.S. men's hockey team won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Tkachuk has denounced the video, saying "It's not my voice. It's not what I was saying. I would never say that." This incident highlights the growing concerns over the Trump administration's use of generative AI to create and spread politically-charged misinformation and propaganda.

Why it matters

The White House's use of AI-generated or edited media to fabricate false narratives and attack political opponents represents a dangerous erosion of truth and shared reality. As generative AI technology becomes more advanced and accessible, it gives those in power the ability to control the public's perception of reality, undermining trust in all forms of media and making it increasingly difficult to discern fact from fiction. This trend poses a serious threat to democratic institutions and the functioning of a free society.

The details

The doctored video in question was posted on the official White House TikTok account following the U.S. men's hockey team's gold medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The video featured a montage of the team's celebration, including a clip of player Brady Tkachuk at a press conference. However, the White House altered the video to make it appear that Tkachuk was insulting Canadian fans, using the phrase "maple syrup eating f**ks." Tkachuk, who is Canadian and plays for an NHL team in Ottawa, has strongly denied making such comments, stating "It's not my voice. It's not what I was saying. I would never say that." This incident is the latest example of the Trump administration using generative AI technology to create and spread politically-motivated misinformation, a practice researchers have dubbed "slopaganda."

  • In March 2025, the White House posted an AI-generated video of the president as a Studio Ghibli character.
  • In January 2026, the White House X account posted an altered image of a Minneapolis civil rights lawyer, exaggerating her features and darkening her skin tone.
  • On March 12, 2026, the White House posted the deepfake video of hockey player Brady Tkachuk on its official TikTok account.

The players

Brady Tkachuk

A Canadian hockey player who plays for an NHL team in Ottawa. Tkachuk has denounced the White House's doctored video that claimed he made offensive comments about Canadian fans.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, who has been a vocal proponent of using generative AI technology to create and spread politically-charged misinformation and propaganda.

Tricia McLaughlin

The assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, who dismissed concerns about the department's use of AI-generated imagery as "silly little stories."

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What they’re saying

“It's not my voice. It's not what I was saying. I would never say that. That's not who I am.”

— Brady Tkachuk

“We won't apologize for posting banger memes.”

— Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Homeland Security (Wired)

What’s next

The White House has not commented on the doctored video, and it remains to be seen if there will be any consequences or accountability for the administration's use of AI-generated misinformation. Experts warn that this trend poses a serious threat to democratic institutions and the public's ability to discern fact from fiction.

The takeaway

The White House's use of generative AI technology to fabricate false narratives and attack political opponents represents a dangerous erosion of truth and shared reality. As this technology becomes more advanced and accessible, it gives those in power the ability to control the public's perception of reality, undermining trust in all forms of media and making it increasingly difficult to discern fact from fiction. This trend poses a serious threat to democratic institutions and the functioning of a free society.