Fri Feb 28 02:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Fake Audio of Donald Trump Jr. Supporting Russia’s War in Ukraine Spreads Online
**Washington, D.C. –** A deepfake audio clip falsely purporting to be Donald Trump Jr. advocating for the U.S. to arm Russia instead of Ukraine is circulating rapidly across social media platforms. The clip, which appears to be AI-generated, has been shared widely, prompting swift denials and fact-checks.
A spokesperson for Trump Jr. has confirmed that the audio is entirely fabricated. Experts at GetReal Labs, utilizing AI detection models, have independently verified the audio’s artificial origin. The clip falsely depicts Trump Jr. as making comments during a February 25th podcast episode; however, no such audio exists in the actual recording.
The spread of the disinformation comes amidst ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Russia regarding the conflict in Ukraine. Former President Trump’s recent attempts to improve relations with Russian President Putin, coupled with his previous assertions that Ukraine instigated the war, have fueled speculation and created a fertile ground for the spread of misinformation. The U.S. has already committed over $174 billion in aid to Ukraine.
The fake audio clip was amplified by several accounts, including a now-deleted post from the official Democratic Party account, FactPostNews, highlighting the bipartisan nature of concern over the spread of this deepfake. Social media posts alongside the clip have included inflammatory statements alleging U.S. complicity with Russia.
Experts warn of the increasing sophistication of AI-generated audio and its potential to manipulate public opinion and exacerbate political divisions. The incident underscores the urgent need for increased media literacy and the development of effective countermeasures against the proliferation of deepfakes.
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