Trump Warns Iran Using AI as 'Disinformation Weapon'

Former president says Iran is spreading false information through AI-generated content to deceive the public.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:48pm

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Former President Donald Trump warned that Iran is using artificial intelligence (AI) technology as a 'disinformation weapon' to spread false information and deceive the American public. Trump cited several instances of Iran using AI-generated content, such as images of buildings and ships on fire, to create the impression of military victories against the U.S. and its allies that never actually happened.

Why it matters

Trump's warning highlights growing concerns about the use of AI to create and spread disinformation, which can undermine public trust in information and sow confusion. As AI technology becomes more advanced, the ability to generate realistic-looking but entirely fabricated content poses a significant threat to national security and the integrity of the information landscape.

The details

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran has long been known for 'media manipulation and public relations' and is now using AI as another 'disinformation weapon.' He cited examples of Iran spreading false claims about attacking U.S. refueling planes and showing images of buildings and ships on fire that never actually happened. Trump said these stories were 'knowingly fake' and suggested media outlets that reported on them should be 'brought up on Charges for TREASON.' The former president praised FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for warning broadcasters about the consequences of airing 'hoaxes and news distortions.'

  • On Sunday, March 16, 2026, Trump warned about Iran's use of AI for disinformation.
  • On Monday, March 17, 2026, Trump again mentioned Iran's use of AI in remarks to the press.

The players

Donald Trump

Former President of the United States who warned about Iran's use of AI for disinformation.

Brendan Carr

Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) who warned broadcasters about the consequences of airing 'hoaxes and news distortions.'

Marc Owen Jones

Associate professor of media analytics at Northwestern University in Qatar who observed that Iran's use of AI-generated images allows them to 'give a sense that this war is more destructive and maybe more costly for America's allies than it might actually be.'

Timothy Graham

Digital media expert at Queensland University of Technology who told the BBC that the 'barrier to creating convincing synthetic conflict footage has essentially collapsed' due to the use of AI tools.

Wynton Hall

Social media director at Breitbart News and author of the book 'CODE RED' who understands the danger of AI being twisted to work against truth, free speech, and the United States.

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What they’re saying

“Iran has long been known as a Master of Media Manipulation and Public Relations. They are Militarily ineffective and weak, but are really good at 'feeding' the very appreciative Fake News Media false information.”

— Donald Trump

“Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.”

— Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman

“The use of A.I. images of places in the Gulf – being burnt or damaged – becomes more important in Iran's playbook, because it allows them to give a sense that this war is more destructive and maybe more costly for America's allies than it might actually be.”

— Marc Owen Jones, Associate Professor of Media Analytics

“The scale is truly alarming and this war has made it impossible to ignore now. What used to require professional video production can now be done in minutes with AI tools. The barrier to creating convincing synthetic conflict footage has essentially collapsed.”

— Timothy Graham, Digital Media Expert

What’s next

The UAE announced the arrest of 35 individuals for publishing misleading, fabricated content and content that harmed defense measures and glorified acts of military aggression against the UAE. Authorities said the suspects were mixing real footage with AI-generated images to create false impressions of explosions and strikes on landmarks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing threat of AI-powered disinformation, which can be used to create realistic-looking but entirely fabricated content to deceive the public. As AI technology advances, the ability to generate convincing synthetic media poses a significant challenge to maintaining the integrity of information and public trust. Policymakers and tech companies will need to work together to address this issue and protect against the malicious use of AI.