The Daily BriefMorning Briefing · Monday 27 July 2026 · 00:39 BST
Morning Briefing · Monday 27 July 2026

Trump Shares Fake AI Images of Strikes and Denies an Ammo Shortage

President Trump posted artificial-intelligence-generated images on social media overnight depicting American jets destroying an Iranian oil terminal, captioning one seized-tanker picture “It’s Our Oil Tanker now!”. Separately, he denied to the Wall Street Journal that a shortage of munitions was constraining the US campaign against Iran. The posts came during the pause in actual strikes.

Dive deeper

The fabricated images — showing a strike on the Kharg Island terminal that has not taken place — blur the line between propaganda and policy at a delicate diplomatic moment, and risk complicating the mediators’ efforts. Reports that America’s stockpiles of precision munitions and interceptors are running low have circulated throughout the two-week war; Mr Trump’s denial is aimed at projecting strength even as talks are floated. Allies have privately voiced unease at the use of AI imagery to depict real-world military action. Watch whether the posturing helps or hinders the fragile truce.

More from this briefing →