Fact Check: Are videos showing Trump announcing 90-day blackout real?
WASHINGTON, DC: Social media videos claiming that US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day blackout and promoted cryptocurrency tokens have been widely circulated online.
The videos have sparked questions about their authenticity, with many users wondering whether the claims are real. Let's fact-check the claim.
Claim: Trump announced a 90-day nationwide power blackout
In early November, videos claiming to show Trump announcing a 90-day nationwide power blackout began circulating on social media.
The clips suggested that Americans would be without electricity for three months. They also allegedly showed Trump promoting cryptocurrency tokens as a way for people to make money during the supposed blackout.
A Facebook and Instagram user named Shythechosen shared a video with the text, "TRUMP CONFIRMS NO POWER FOR 90 DAYS."
The video featured Trump appearing to announce the blackout, and the user encouraged viewers to invest in a cryptocurrency token called United States Power Reserve (USPR), claiming it could help them earn money during the outage.
Another Facebook user, Derrick Speaks, shared the same clip of Trump but promoted a different cryptocurrency token called United States Asset Reserve (USAR).
Fact Check: The claim is fabricated
The videos featured fabricated clips of Donald Trump. The president never made an announcement about an impending 90-day blackout, and no credible news sources have reported any plans for a nationwide power outage.
The videos were manipulated using artificial intelligence to alter Trump's lip movements and audio, making it appear as though he had said things he never actually stated.
The misleading videos and false claims emerged following recent reports that the Pentagon was considering requiring military bases to remain operational for at least 90 days without depending on civilian electricity, fuel, water, or supply chains.
In September, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the initiative, naming it "Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply, and Survivability," abbreviated as FORTRESS.
Additionally, searches identified several Facebook accounts dedicated to posting scripted videos that shared the fabricated Trump clips. These accounts appeared to be part of a coordinated effort, as their Facebook Reels consistently featured similar types of content.
A reverse image search revealed that the Shythechosen clip originated from an authentic video of Trump speaking in front of the Reflecting Pool on November 2.
The same sequence, in which Trump looks down to his right, raises his head, and then slightly shakes it, can be seen shortly after the 23:21 mark in the original video. However, Trump was actually criticizing Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections. He made no statements about a 90-day blackout or cryptocurrency tokens.
