Donald Trump shares graphic footage of fatal tiger attack and subsequent AI video

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump shared a 41-second video on his Truth Social account depicting the fatal attack of a tiger on 23-year-old William Chapman at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, England. Trump accompanied the footage with the caption, "Never mess with nature!" and signed it as "President DJT." The video was subsequently reposted by the White House's "Rapid Response 47" account on X, drawing significant public backlash.

The family of the victim expressed intense distress over the circulation of the footage, stating that it adds to their grief, and has appealed for the material to be removed. Chapman’s relatives remembered him as a bright and kind individual. They have requested respect for their mourning period following this tragedy.

Shortly after the initial post, Trump shared a second, AI-generated video showing himself chasing, wrestling, and eventually embracing a tiger while the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" plays. Later, he posted another video in which he is depicted as a lion. The combination of the graphic footage of the fatal accident and the subsequent AI-generated content has sparked widespread criticism regarding the president's social media conduct.