On March 16, 2026, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of spreading artificial intelligence-generated disinformation regarding the ongoing conflict and criticized media outlets for reporting what he called “false information” about American military assets. In a post on Truth Social, Trump labeled Iran a “Master of Media Manipulation” and claimed they are using AI as a “disinformation weapon”. He dismissed online visuals of Iranian attacks as “phony” and insisted that five American refueling aircraft reported damaged are still operational.
Trump also denied claims that the USS Abraham Lincoln had been attacked, asserting that imagery of burning ships is “FAKE NEWS”, generated by AI. He condemned media organizations for disseminating false information and suggested they should face “Charges for TREASON” for their reporting. Emphasizing that Iran is losing militarily, he stated that their perceived victories are fabricated through AI and promoted by “Corrupt Media Outlets.” Trump praised the FCC Chairman for reviewing broadcast licenses of these media organizations, which he accused of using public airwaves to spread lies.
