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A viral video purporting to show former U.S. President Donald Trump with blindfolded young girls has been exposed as a sophisticated fake, according to misinformation researchers who traced it to a network of pro-Iran propaganda accounts on social media platform X.
The manipulated clip, which garnered millions of views, shows a line of blindfolded girls walking past someone resembling Trump before transitioning to footage of Trump with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. One post from an account called HDX News claimed the video was authentic and suggested that the escalating Middle East conflict was deliberately orchestrated to divert attention from Epstein-related discussions.
Experts at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) identified the accounts sharing the video as part of a coordinated network of at least 15 anonymous profiles promoting messaging aligned with Iranian government interests. Another account in the network, GPX News, shared the same video and received more than 4.7 million views.
“These accounts systematically amplify each other’s content and consistently publish messages supporting Iran while criticizing the United States and Israel,” said a researcher familiar with the investigation. “The strategy appears straightforward but effective: attract attention with sensational Epstein-related content, then expose viewers to political propaganda.”
Bret Schafer, who heads U.S. research at ISD, described the tactic succinctly: “You come for the Epstein content, and you stay for the propaganda.”
The circulation of misleading content has intensified significantly since February 28, when U.S. and Israeli strikes reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering broader regional conflict. Since then, social media has been inundated with dramatic videos allegedly showing missile strikes, destroyed fighter jets, and massive explosions.
Fact-checkers have subsequently debunked many of these clips as either AI-generated fabrications, recycled footage from earlier conflicts, or even scenes extracted from video games.
In response to journalistic inquiries, X suspended both HDX News and GPX News accounts, though several others within the identified network remained active. The platform did not publicly specify the reasons for the suspensions.
X recently announced stricter policies targeting misleading war footage. According to Nikita Bier, the platform’s head of product, users who share AI-generated conflict videos without proper disclosure risk losing monetization privileges for 90 days, with repeat violations potentially resulting in permanent bans.
“During times of war, it is critical that people have access to authentic information,” Bier stated in a post on the platform.
Researchers have also noted that the misinformation campaign coincides with a troubling rise in antisemitic content online. Some posts attempt to connect Epstein, who was Jewish, to the Middle East conflict, propagating conspiracy theories about a so-called “Epstein regime” controlling American and Israeli leadership.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) documented that the phrase “Operation Epstein Fury” appeared more than 90,000 times on X within just the first three days of the conflict. Oren Segal, the ADL’s senior vice president of counter-extremism, warned that such narratives frequently fuel real-world harassment and violence.
While experts suggest that a single misleading video—even one that goes viral—may not dramatically shift public opinion, they caution that repeated exposure to similar content can gradually influence perceptions over time.
“Conspiracy theories tend to gain traction when they reinforce ideas that people already believe,” explained Emerson Brooking of the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab. “They exploit existing biases and suspicions.”
Despite user attrition in recent years, X remains highly influential in global politics, particularly among political leaders, journalists, and commentators who use the platform to shape public discourse.
As tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, digital security experts warn that misinformation and propaganda campaigns are likely to intensify across all major social media platforms, requiring heightened vigilance from both users and platform administrators.
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14 Comments
This is a troubling example of how misinformation and propaganda can be used to sow division and distract from important issues. Fact-checking and media literacy are crucial.
You’re right, this underscores the importance of verifying sources and not blindly believing everything we see online. Coordinated disinformation campaigns are a real threat.
The connection to pro-Iran accounts is concerning. Clearly, this video was part of a broader effort to shape narratives and influence public opinion. We must be vigilant against such tactics.
Agreed. This highlights how geopolitical conflicts can be exacerbated by the spread of falsified media. Consumers need to be cautious and seek out authoritative information.
It’s disheartening to see how social media can be weaponized for propaganda purposes. We must remain critical and fact-check claims, especially those involving sensitive topics like this.
Absolutely. The rapid proliferation of this video is a sobering reminder of the potential harms of unchecked misinformation online. Diligence and media literacy are key.
This is a troubling example of how social media can be weaponized for political gain. We must remain vigilant and rely on authoritative sources to verify claims, especially around sensitive topics.
Well said. Fact-checking and media literacy are essential skills in the digital age, as malicious actors continue to exploit platforms for their own ends.
Interesting to see how this fake video was traced back to a pro-Iran propaganda network. Definitely highlights the need for critical thinking when encountering viral content online.
Agreed. It’s concerning how these types of manipulated videos can spread so quickly and mislead people. Important to rely on reputable sources.
While disturbing, it’s good that researchers were able to trace the origins of this fake video. Exposing these tactics is an important step in combating the broader issue of online disinformation.
Definitely. Shining a light on how these coordinated propaganda networks operate is crucial for raising awareness and developing more effective countermeasures.
This is a clear example of how bad actors can exploit social media to spread disinformation and sway public opinion. We need stronger safeguards against coordinated propaganda campaigns.
Couldn’t agree more. Platforms and policymakers must take stronger action to identify and curb the spread of manipulated media and coordinated influence operations.