President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video showing himself throwing late-night host Stephen Colbert into a garbage bin on May 22, 2024 [1].
The post marks a rare, tongue-in-cheek interaction between the U.S. President and the comedian, who spent more than 10 years hosting The Late Show [3].
The video, which was posted late Friday, depicts Trump tossing Colbert into a bin before performing a celebratory dance [2]. The clip appeared on the President's X account and was also published on the White House Instagram page [1], [2].
This digital farewell coincided with Colbert's departure from his long-running role on television. The use of artificial intelligence to create the scene allowed for a surreal depiction of the two public figures interacting in a way that would be impossible in a real-world setting.
Trump was 79 years old at the time the video was shared [1]. The content was presented as a humorous send-off to the host after his tenure on the network ended [2].
While the two men have a well-documented history of public friction, the AI clip served as a stylized conclusion to Colbert's time on the air. The distribution across both a personal social media account and an official government platform highlighted the blend of personal branding, and official communication used by the administration.
“Trump shared an AI-generated video showing himself throwing late-night host Stephen Colbert into a garbage bin”
This incident illustrates the increasing use of generative AI by political leaders to create satirical content. By deploying the video on both personal and official channels, the administration demonstrates a shift toward using synthetic media as a tool for public engagement and political messaging, blurring the line between official government communication and personal social media commentary.
