White House Stands Firm on Trump's Absurd AI Post of Iran's Navy at Ocean Floor

President Trump has unleashed a new level of absurdity with an AI-generated post that mocks the Iranian Navy, claiming they lie at the bottom of the ocean. This comes amid ongoing conflict in Iran, where thousands have already perished.

The post features a headline that ridicules CNN, stating “Iran’s Navy is Strong,” followed by the taunt, “Meanwhile… IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN.” Accompanying this was an AI-created image depicting Iranian ships resting on the seabed.

The White House X account responded with a single word: “Real.”

Social media erupted in outrage over the insensitivity displayed towards the casualties in Iran and neighboring areas due to the ongoing war.

One user bluntly stated, “This literally is NOT REAL,” and sought confirmation on the authenticity of the image.

Grok’s AI analysis confirmed the image as a satirical meme, not an actual photograph. It noted that while modern AI-generated images can appear real, the composition—ships neatly lined up on the ocean floor with flags waving—indicates it was digitally created for effect.

The analysis pointed out that it reflects reported U.S. strikes that reportedly sank much of Iran's navy, as stated by Trump and corroborated by news from March to May 2026. The White House’s “Real.” comment affirms the events but not the literal image.

In response, users flooded the comments with their own AI-generated images, depicting Trump as being controlled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, insinuating that U.S. military actions serve Israel's interests over its own.

One user accused, “YOU SOLD AMERICA OUT!”

Another user highlighted the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, stating, “And yet the strait is still closed,” which has led to soaring gas prices since the war began.

A clip featuring Senator Chris Murphy pointed out the absurdity of spending $2 billion a day to reopen the Strait of Hormuz when it was previously open before Trump initiated military action. The user remarked, “They created a global crisis out of nothing.”

On April 13, Trump declared on social media, “Iran's Navy is lying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated - 158 ships. What we have not hit are their small number of, what they call, ‘fast attack ships,’ because we did not consider them much of a threat. Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea. It is quick and brutal. P.S. 98.2% of Drugs coming into the U.S. by Ocean or Sea have STOPPED! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Trump has a history of using AI for bizarre imagery, including a now-deleted post featuring racist depictions of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes on February 5, and an AI-generated image portraying Trump as Jesus Christ, which was also deleted shortly after posting on April 12.