Trump Faces Backlash for Posting AI Video After UK Zoo Tiger Attack

US President Donald Trump has faced widespread criticism for posting an AI-generated video on his Truth Social platform after a 23-year-old man was killed by a tiger at a UK zoo.

William Chapman, 23, died on Saturday at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in northern England after entering a tiger enclosure. The incident has sparked an investigation, with the zoo remaining closed while a health and safety investigation is carried out.

Trump shared footage of the incident on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, captioning it: 'Don't ever mess with nature! President DJT.'

He later posted an AI-generated video depicting himself playing with the tiger, which was met with widespread criticism from the public and wildlife experts.

Family Pleads for End to Footage Circulation

Chapman's family has pleaded for an end to the circulation of the footage, describing it as 'deeply offensive' and causing them 'severe distress'.

'The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened,' they said in a statement. 'The publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content is causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time. We ask people to stop doing this.'

Wildlife Charity Slams Trump's AI Video

Wildlife charity Born Free Foundation has also criticized Trump's AI video, describing it as 'incredibly insensitive' and 'reckless'.

'It increases the risk to the lives of humans and captive wild animals,' said Will Travers, executive president of the charity. 'Videos portraying close interactions between humans and dangerous animals could encourage people to seek similar encounters, putting both people and captive wildlife at risk.'

Investigation into Chapman's Death

Chapman's family has also urged the public to allow the investigation and inquest to determine the circumstances of his death.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park has confirmed that the tiger involved in the attack, an endangered Amur tiger named Altai, will not be euthanised.

Amur tigers are among the world's endangered big cats, and the wildlife park has remained closed since the incident.

Doncaster City Council, which licenses the facility, has launched a health and safety investigation, and an inquest into Chapman's death is scheduled to open at Doncaster Coroner's Court on Thursday.

Chapman had struggled with significant mental illness for several years and had been prescribed strong medication, according to his family.

His relatives have expressed hope that the authorities will establish the circumstances that led Chapman to enter the enclosure.

Chapman had appeared on television as a child, including in ITV's 2009 comedy-drama May Contain Nuts and BBC Learning's True Stories series, according to IMDb.

He previously attended the Jackie Palmer stage school in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, which paid tribute to him on Facebook.

The school said it was 'deeply saddened' by his death and remembered watching him grow both personally and as a performer.

'It was a privilege to be part of his journey and he will be remembered with great fondness by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him,' the school said.