Politics
Trump and Musk mocked in new AI video showing them as factory workers
AI-Generated videos mocking Donald Trumpand his top team have continued to go viral amid a deepening trade war between the US and China.
New footage shows Trump, senior adviser Elon Musk and JD Vance working on a production line making trainers in a thinly veiled slight at the White House‘s hopes to bring back manufacturing to the US.
Chinese accounts have been promoting the video and photos ridiculing the so-called ‘US Manufacturing Revival Plan’ in light of the Chinese Communist Party vowing they would ‘fight to the end’ in a tariff war.
Despite a 90-day pause in implementing increased tariffs on other nations, Trump has continued to focus his fire on Beijing, further hiking the rate on Chinese imports to 125 per cent.
Should the economic stand-off continue, the Nike shoes featured in the video may skyrocket in price, according to experts.
At the moment, 62 per cent of the shoes sold in the United States are imported from China, with other nations like Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia and India providing the rest.
Just one per cent of shoes are produced domestically, with figures from the sneaker industry – worth $70billion annually – left frustrated.
Devlin Carter, the founder of luxury firm SIA collective – which manufactures shoes mostly in China – told NBC News: ‘These are ridiculous tariffs that make no sense.
The footage shows Trump, senior adviser Elon Musk and JD Vance working on a production line
At the moment, 62 per cent of the shoes sold in the United States are imported from China
Just one per cent of shoes are produced domestically, with figures from the sneaker industry – worth $70billion annually – left frustrated
‘Small businesses like mine have to pay these tariffs, and it’s not a small thing. It’s a lot. So there’s no way to see this as something that’s good — for anybody.
‘And it’s all unnecessary.’
Economist Peter Schiff said last week: ‘Nike won’t build factories in the US to make sneakers. That would add more cost than the 40 per cent tariffs.
‘Plus, they need to stay competitive selling to customers in other countries that don’t impose tariffs. The result will be fewer sneakers sold in the US at much higher prices.’
Pepper Harward, chief executive officer of Oka Brands, which has a factory in the state of Georgia, told Footwear News: ‘The footwear ecosystem doesn’t really exist here.
‘Everybody’s interested in U.S. manufacturing but very few people are fully committed to it or have solid justifications for making investments there.
Chris Rogers, head of supply chain research at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said it could take a ‘couple of years’ at the minimum to move supply chains back to the US from abroad.
Economist Peter Schiff said last week: ‘Nike won’t build factories in the US to make sneakers. That would add more cost than the 40 per cent tariffs’
China is a key trading partner with a large manufacturing industry, producing inexpensive goods for American consumers
Other AI-generated videos related to the trade war have also been seen millions of times in both China and Western countries.
One popular one portrayed a glum picture of life in a re-industrialised America, with obese factory workers stitching cheap clothes.
China is a key trading partner with a large manufacturing industry, producing inexpensive goods for American consumers.
Trump’s tariffs come at a difficult time for China’s sluggish economy, with firms now scrambling to adjust their supply chains and officials concerned that any profits made selling goods to the US will be completely wiped out.
They have remained bullish in public, however, with China’s foreign ministry saying thery do not ‘fear’ further tariff threats.
‘The US cause doesn’t win the support of the people and will end in failure,’ a ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said at a press conference.
Beijing’s commerce ministry said: ‘We hope the US will meet China halfway, and, based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation.’
Trump’s tariffs come at a difficult time for China’s sluggish economy, with firms now scrambling to adjust their supply chains
But Trump is seemingly insistent on refusing to budge over his tariff strategy with Beijing.
‘At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realise that the days of ripping off the USA and other countries is no longer sustainable or acceptable,’ he said.
China ‘wants to make a deal, they just don’t know how quite to go about it,’ he added.
‘They’re proud people. President Xi [Jinping] is a proud man. I know him very well. They don’t know quite how to go about it but they’ll figure it out.’
Politics
Breaking: Diri Orders Autopsy on Bayelsa Deputy Governor’s Death, Warns Against Politicisation
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death of the state’s Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Governor Diri gave the directive on Saturday while receiving former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Government House in Yenagoa.
Reacting to the incident, the governor condemned what he described as widespread misinformation and speculation on social media, warning against any attempt to politicise the deputy governor’s death.
“I want to make an appeal. I have seen people politicise his death. In Ijaw land, there is no enmity in death. Let nobody politicise the passing of our dearly beloved deputy governor,” Diri said.
“If anyone truly loves him, this is the time to show it. I have directed that an autopsy be carried out to reveal the cause of his death. There is a lot of nonsense going on on social media.”
The governor further urged the public to focus on mourning and honouring the late deputy governor, noting that the state government had declared three working days of mourning in his honour.
“If anyone is issuing statements to eulogise him, let it end there. Let us mourn him because Bayelsa State is in a mourning mood,” he added.
Governor Diri also called for unity and love among the people, reminding them of the inevitability of death.
Speaking during the condolence visit, former President Goodluck Jonathan described the late Ewhrudjakpo as a committed and dedicated individual who played a key role in the activities of his foundation.
“For me, he was someone my foundation and I will never forget. He represented the governor in all our programs,” Jonathan said, adding that Ewhrudjakpo worked tirelessly in that role, even more than when he served as deputy governor.
The founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said he will never take part in partisan politics, not for even billions of naira.
He stated that no amount of money, including “$1 billion,” (1.4 Trillion naira) would make him join politics.
Oyedepo made this known during an impartation service at Shiloh 2025 held at the church’s headquarters in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.
He explained that partisan politics is not part of his life’s calling and that is why he has chosen to stay away from it.
In his words: “In 2015, I warned the church that trouble was coming. Didn’t trouble come?
“Partisan politics is off my calling. If you give me $1 billion to join politics, I won’t, because it is off my course.”
The bishop also said the world is in urgent need of God’s intervention because of the times we are living in.
According to him, believers are being trained as an end-time army to bring solutions to national and global problems, similar to what biblical figures like Joseph and Daniel did.
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on his birthday, December 13.
President Tinubu celebrates with the Minister and former governor of Rivers State, giving thanks to God Almighty for enriching him with a life defined by purpose, service, and courage.
The President describes Chief Wike as an audacious top performer who defies obstacles and delivers results.
President Tinubu acknowledges the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory through infrastructure expansion, highlighting the Minister’s recent intervention that broke the 14-year logjam in the construction of the Apo-Karshi road.
The President commends Chief Wike for his resilience, can-do attitude, and commitment to excellence in all assignments.
President Tinubu thanks the Minister for his consistent efforts in delivering results and wishes him a happy birthday and strength to further his good work in the FCT.
“Nyesom Wike has been one of the shining stars in the cabinet, an exceptional performer, developing infrastructure in the Federal capital as never seen before and proving that his moniker as ‘Mr Project’ is not limited to his home state of Rivers.
“I commend him for being one of the champions of our Renewed Hope Agenda, even though he belongs to another party and wish him well as he marks another year in his life journey”.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
December 13, 2025
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