Fact check: Deepfake video of Manhattan DA spreads false claims about Trump ca
Manhattan #Manhattan
The claim: Video shows Alvin Bragg dropping charges against Donald Trump and resigning
A March 25 Instagram video shows what appears to be Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaking.
“It is with an extremely heavy heart that I must announce that the New York District Attorney’s Office, after an extensive, thorough investigation, has decided to drop all charges against Donald Trump,” Bragg appears to say. “I hereby resign from my position as the district attorney of New York.”
The post garnered more than 3,000 likes in four days. Similar versions of the post have been shared on TikTok.
Users in the comments appear to have believed the video of Bragg is authentic.
“They are so afraid of our great President Donald J Trump,” reads one comment.
“Great – now look into Biden & Hillary,” reads another.
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Our rating: Altered
The video’s audio is altered. Bragg’s office is still investigating former President Donald Trump.
Video of district attorney is edited
Bragg’s office is currently investigating a hush-money payment made by Trump to adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election.
The video of Bragg announcing he’s dropping these charges and resigning isn’t legitimate, however.
It’s an example of a deepfake, which is a type of video manipulation that utilizes artificial intelligence techniques to make it look as if someone did or said things they didn’t.
The original footage of Bragg was filmed in January 2022, when he spoke to the New York University School of Law. He’s seen sitting in front of the same two flags wearing the same suit and tie as in the deepfake video. He doesn’t mention Trump during his remarks.
Former President Donald Trump campaigns on March 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas.
Fact check: Statement from Stormy Daniels denying an affair with Trump is from 2018
The deepfake was shared earlier on Twitter by conservative commentator Jack Posobiec.
Story continues
“BREAKING: DA Alvin Bragg’s precreated speech from next week dropping all charges on Donald J. Trump has been released,” reads the tweet’s caption.
The video includes several hints that it was created as satire.
Before he announces his supposed resignation, the manipulated video shows Bragg saying Posobiec called him “fat Alvin… implying I’m a member of the chipmunks.” The video concludes with Bragg saying he’s going to go “indulge in some very delicious chocolate vanilla swirl pudding and eat my feelings.”
There’s no evidence the district attorney’s office is dropping its charges against Trump.
The grand jury reconvened on March 27 to hear testimony from a key witness in the case against Trump, according to CBS News. Meanwhile, Bragg continues to tweet on behalf of the office.
USA TODAY reached out to the users who shared the post for comment.
PolitiFact and the Associated Press have debunked this claim as well.
Our fact-check sources:
USA TODAY, May 6, 2019, What is a deepfake? This video technology is spooking some politicians
Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Jan. 21, 2022, D.A. Bragg Delivers Remarks at NYU School of Law
Jack Posobiec, March 23, Tweet
CBS News, March 27, Manhattan grand jury investigating Trump hears from key witness
Alvin Bragg, March 27, Tweet
PolitiFact, March 27, Alvin Bragg didn’t say he would drop charges against Donald Trump; this video’s a deepfake
Associated Press, March 25, Altered clip of Manhattan DA Bragg spreads falsehoods amid Trump case
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Video of Alvin Bragg dropping Trump charges is edited