Donald Trump has sparked controversy following the release of an AI-generated video featuring NHL player Braeden Tkachuk, in which he appears to insult Canada. This incident comes shortly before Trump’s State of the Union address, where the men’s hockey team was present as special guests. The video, shared by the White House on February 23, 2026, has since gained significant attention on TikTok.
The video depicts Tkachuk, who is the captain of the Ottawa Senators, making a statement that suggests he is criticizing Canada for booing the American national anthem. He appears to say, “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 ever making these remarks, describing the content as “clearly fake.”
In a statement reported by The Guardian, Tkachuk emphasized, “It’s not my voice. It’s not what I was saying. I would never say that. That’s not who I am.” He further clarified that he had no control over the video or the accounts that shared it.
The White House captioned the video, “Silver does NOT shine just as bright,” in reference to the U.S. men’s hockey team’s victory over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Critics quickly responded, pointing out the misleading nature of the video and expressing disbelief that it was released by an official government account. Comments on social media included remarks like, “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.”
This incident raises questions about the use of AI-generated media in political communication, especially when it can distort the messages of public figures. Critics have called for greater accountability from the White House social media team, suggesting that the implications of sharing such content could be damaging.
As the situation continues to develop, Tkachuk’s Olympic teammates have also made headlines for their decision to skip an invitation to meet President Trump. The fallout from this video may shape public discussions around the integrity of digital content and its impact on political discourse.
At this time, the White House has not issued a formal response to inquiries regarding the controversial video.
