Fact-check: Did President Donald Trump threaten to issue arrest warrants to South Sudanese elites?

No, US President Donald Trump didn’t make this speech, and it was AI-generated content.

Writer: Makur Majeng

A Social media audio claim that US President Donald Trump has threatened to issue arrest warrants for South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, business tycoon Benjamin Bol Mel, and SPLM Secretary-General Peter Lam Both is fake. 

The claim also added that Trump has vowed to freeze the assets of Benjamin Bol Mel and impose further sanctions on the South Sudanese government within 24 hours if the ban on social media remains. 

“I have been informed that the corrupt and brutal government of South Sudan has banned the citizens from accessing the internet. If these restrictions are not lifted within twenty-four hours, I will issue an arrest warrant for Dictator Salva Kiir, Benjamin Bol Mel, and SPLM General Secretary Peter Lam Both. Additionally, the United States will freeze all assets illegally acquired by Benjamin Bol Mel and impose further sanctions on the government of South Sudan,” reads the audio transcript of the claim.

This claim statement was widely shared on social media platforms, with one Facebook post by “Gambella Issue News” generating over 21,000 views, 300+ likes, 45 comments, and 165 shares. But despite its virality, the claim lacks credibility.

The screenshot of the Facebook post claim bearing President Trump’s image (up) and President Salva Kiir’s image (below).

Claim Verification:

A Google keyword search using “DONALD TRUMP SPEECH ABOUT SOUTH SUDAN INTERNET BAN” yielded no results from credible sources. No reliable news outlets have reported any such speech by Donald Trump targeting South Sudanese leaders.

A comprehensive review of Donald Trump’s speeches, interviews, and official accounts on platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) revealed no record of him making this statement.

If Trump had made such a controversial statement, it would have been widely covered by reputable international and South Sudanese media outlets, including CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, and Eye Radio. However, no such coverage exists, further debunking the claim.

The style and content of the audio suggest it was AI-generated. Advances in AI tools have made it easier to create deepfakes and fabricated audio recordings, often used to spread misinformation and disinformation.

Conclusion

211 Check established the claim that Donald Trump threatened to issue arrest warrants for South Sudanese elites and impose sanctions within 24 hours is false. The claim in the speech was fabricated using artificial intelligence technology, and Trump has not made any statement concerning the social media restrictions in South Sudan.

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