Former President Donald Trump has ignited a wave of criticism following the release of an AI-generated video featuring NHL player Braeden Tkachuk. The video, shared by the White House on February 23, 2026, during the presence of Team USA’s men’s hockey team at a State of the Union address, shows Tkachuk allegedly making disparaging remarks about Canada.
The clip, which has since gone viral, appears to depict Tkachuk at a press conference responding to an incident where American fans experienced boos during the national anthem at hockey games. In the video, he is shown saying, “They booed our national anthem, so I had to come out and teach those maple syrup eating f—- a lesson.”
However, Tkachuk has publicly denied these statements, asserting that the words were not his and branding the video as “clearly fake.” He emphasized, “It’s not my voice, it’s not what I was saying. I would never say that. That’s not who I am.” The 26-year-old, who serves as captain for the Ottawa Senators, a Canadian NHL team, represented Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Reactions and Implications
The White House caption on the video, “Silver does NOT shine just as bright,” further fueled the backlash. Critics swiftly took to social media to express their disapproval, questioning the credibility of the content and the decision to publish it. One commenter remarked, “Do none of you realize this is fake? It is AI dubbed. Tkachuk never said any of that. I can’t believe this was put out by the White House.” Another added, “Is there not ONE single sane person on the White House social media team?”
The video features a warning label indicating that it “contains AI-generated media,” but many have criticized the administration for using such content. These reactions highlight broader concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence in political communication and the potential for misinformation.
Attempts to reach the White House for clarification on the matter yielded no response at the time of publication. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact public perception of the former president and his administration’s media strategies.
Tkachuk’s Olympic teammates also made headlines when five of them declined invitations to meet with Trump, suggesting a divide in the team’s relationship with the former president.
This incident serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges facing public figures in an era where digital media can easily misrepresent reality.
