'Is She Even Real?': Critics Mock 'Robotic' Melania Trump Over Odd AI 'Deepfake' Event Video

However, a series of technical glitches and her characteristically poised delivery led some viewers to wonder if the first lady had quite literally become the subject she was discussing.

Critics Question Melania Trump

The confusion began almost immediately when Zoom's CEO and founder, Eric Yuan, introduced the first lady. In an ironic twist, Yuan noted that Mrs. Trump has 'explored innovative ways to engage with AI' across various projects. He even gave a nod to her upcoming documentary, Melania, set for release on Jan. 30, which Amazon MGM Studios reportedly purchased for $40 million and will premiere at the Kennedy Center, jokingly adding that the film is 'not AI-generated'.

However, the levity vanished when the video feed cut to the first lady. As she began to speak, the audio dropped out entirely, leaving viewers watching a silent, high-definition loop of her delivery. Even after the sound was restored, the damage was done in the comments sections. On Forbes' live YouTube feed, one participant quipped, 'This is 100% an AI hallucination.' Others were more biting, with one user scoffing, 'Speech about AI, written by AI, read by a robot.'

While Mrs. Trump's official @FLOTUS account later shared a sharper version of the video that quelled some 'deepfake' theories, it did little to silence her long-standing detractors. Critics took the opportunity to jeer at her Slovenian accent, with some making cruel remarks about her speech patterns. Despite the noise, the core of her message remained a stern warning against the very technology she was being accused of inhabiting.

'Remember, never surrender your thinking to AI,' she told the audience. 'Be intellectually honest with yourself. Use AI as a tool, but do not let it replace your personal intelligence.'

Shaping the Digital Era

Despite the 'robotic' labels from critics, supporters of the first lady have praised her for being at the vanguard of a critical policy issue. Long before the current AI boom, Mrs. Trump's 'Be Best' initiative launched in 2018 focused on digital citizenship and online safety as one of its three main pillars. Her current work is seen by many as the next logical step in protecting children in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

In September 2025, she launched the 'Fostering the Future Together' initiative during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, a global coalition aimed at ensuring 'every child can flourish in the digital era'. This mission is set to take a more formal shape in the first quarter of 2026, as the White House confirmed she will host the inaugural meeting of the coalition consisting of spouses of heads of government in Washington.

The first lady has also been active in promoting hands-on education, having launched the 'Presidential AI Challenge' in August 2025 following an executive order signed by President Trump to encourage students in grades K-12 to solve community problems using technology. The challenge aims to foster American innovation, with national finalists invited to a showcase at the White House in June 2026.

For her supporters, the focus isn't on whether her video feed was 'too perfect', but on the fact that she is pushing for AI literacy at a time when the workforce is being fundamentally reshaped. As one fan noted, most people don't realise she has been focused on tech safety for years; she isn't just reacting to the trend, she's trying to lead it.