WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump posted an AI tanker image depicting himself aboard an Iranian vessel, then shared a revised version without two falling figures minutes later.
Trump published the images on his verified Truth Social account and carried the caption, “This is our tanker now.”
The scene showed Trump beside a US flag and two American service members. It also placed a flag representing the Islamic Republic underfoot.
Two caricatured figures wearing Middle Eastern clothing appeared to fall from the tanker. However, Trump’s second version removed both men while retaining the wider scene.
The images formed part of a larger series depicting US forces capturing or destroying Iranian tankers. Other posts showed American flags aboard vessels and tankers engulfed in flames, maritime publication Captain reported.
The posts provided no policy explanation or details of a military operation. The images were digitally generated and did not document an actual tanker seizure.
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Trump published the series as Washington and Tehran remained locked in conflict over maritime traffic and Iran’s nuclear programme. At the time, both sides had paused direct strikes for three consecutive nights.
