US President Donald Trump has sparked criticism after sharing an AI-generated video of himself wrestling and embracing a tiger, just days after 23-year-old William Chapman was fatally mauled at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster.

The video, posted to Trump's Truth Social account, appears to recreate elements of the tragic incident, with the President taking Chapman's place. In the AI-generated clip, Trump is seen confronting the tiger, chasing it, wrestling it to the ground and eventually embracing the animal, all to the soundtrack of The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

The AI-generated video followed Trump's decision to share footage of the real-life attack on Tuesday (13 October). The footage showed Chapman inside the tiger enclosure as the animal attacked him, although it did not show him being killed. Trump accompanied the clip with the message: “Don’t ever mess with nature!”

The original incident occurred on Saturday (10 October), when Chapman entered a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Emergency services were called shortly after 1.30pm, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following the tragedy, Chapman's family released a statement revealing that he had suffered from significant mental illness over several years and had been prescribed strong medication. They stressed that it would be for the coroner to determine whether this played a role in his death.

The family also expressed their distress over the circulation of footage and other content relating to the incident, asking the public to stop sharing it. In their statement, they said:

“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.”

Trump's posts have since attracted criticism across social media, with many questioning the decision to turn a fatal incident into online content. The timing has also drawn attention because the family is still grieving and has explicitly asked people to stop circulating distressing material.

British broadcaster Piers Morgan was among those to condemn the AI-generated video, writing on X:

"This is appallingly tasteless. Delete it, President @realDonaldTrump."

Political commentator Harry Sisson also criticised the President, questioning his decision to share the video in the middle of the night.

The reaction has been equally critical among TSB Residents, with many expressing disbelief at the President's decision to share the video. One Resident commented,

‍“The most surprising thing is that it's not surprising”, suggesting that Trump's social media activity has become increasingly predictable.

Another questioned how his supporters might respond, writing,

‍“I'd love to know what the people that voted for him thinks about seeing this shi”.

Others pointed to the fact that the tragedy occurred outside the United States, with one Resident commenting, “It's not even his own country news to mock? That's what's getting me”.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Wildlife Park has remained closed following the incident as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding Chapman's death. The tiger involved in the attack, an Amur tiger named Altai, will not be euthanised.

The investigation is ongoing, and an inquest into Chapman's death is due to open at Doncaster Coroner's Court on Thursday (15 October).

Trump's decision to share the AI-generated video has continued to attract criticism, particularly given the timing of the post and the circumstances surrounding Chapman's death. The backlash also comes as Chapman's family continues to mourn his passing and has urged the public to respect their privacy while authorities work to establish the circumstances that led to the tragedy.