In June 2025, social media was set ablaze with videos alleging that Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, had told interim President Capt. Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, “sit down, boy.” The claim quickly went viral, spreading across platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
A TikTok video alone, posted on June 18, garnered over 506,000 views, leading many to believe that a tense exchange had taken place between Leavitt and Traoré. However, a closer examination of the evidence reveals that the incident, as depicted in the viral videos, is entirely fabricated.
The viral video that stirred up significant attention depicted a heated moment during what was supposed to be a diplomatic discussion between Leavitt and Traoré. According to the video's narrator, the two leaders were discussing African independence and America's role in West Africa when, suddenly, Leavitt snapped, "Sit down, boy," after Traoré was calmly explaining his country’s views on Western involvement.
The supposed outburst was framed as a shocking and dramatic moment, one that the narrator suggested would haunt Leavitt’s career forever.
However, after conducting a thorough investigation, no evidence was found to support the claim. A Google search for terms such as “Karoline Leavitt,” “Ibrahim Traoré,” and “sit down boy” yielded no results showing that such a confrontation occurred.
Furthermore, there was no mention of a meeting between the two figures on any television network or reputable news outlet. If such an incident had occurred, it would have been widely reported by mainstream media sources, which it was not.
The videos, it appears, were not authentic but instead the product of AI-generated content. The narrators in the videos spoke in a stilted, awkward manner, and there were noticeable pauses and mispronunciations of the names of both Leavitt and Traoré.
Additionally, the visuals were altered and digitally generated, with a disclaimer appearing in the YouTube video warning of significant edits and synthetic content. The fact that the claim relied on such digitally manipulated content points to its fabrication for the sole purpose of generating clicks and views on social media.
This is not the first time Leavitt has been the subject of misleading rumors that spread quickly on social media. A previous debunked claim suggested that Leavitt had been slapped by a judge in court—another incident that originated from an AI-generated video.
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These kinds of fabricated stories seem to be part of a broader trend of online misinformation, particularly targeted at political figures who garner significant public attention.
The timing of this video’s release is also worth noting. Traoré, a military leader who has aligned himself with Russia, was gaining popularity in Burkina Faso and across Africa.
This context adds an element of intrigue to the fabricated story, as it could have been created to undermine Leavitt, who holds a prominent role in the U.S. government, at a time when international relations in Africa, especially regarding Russian influence, were becoming a focal point.
Despite the claims made by the video’s creators, there is no credible source or evidence to substantiate the idea that such an exchange took place. In fact, the absence of any reputable news outlets covering the incident is a clear indication that it was entirely fictional.
The fact that no video of the alleged confrontation was provided by any legitimate media organization further reinforces the idea that this was nothing more than a piece of clickbait, designed to mislead and entertain, rather than inform.
What’s perhaps most concerning about this viral story is how it mirrors the growing influence of AI-generated content in shaping public perception. While AI tools can certainly be valuable in many areas of media and entertainment, they also present significant risks when used to manipulate public opinion.
The ability to create highly convincing yet entirely false narratives is a dangerous trend that undermines trust in news sources and erodes the integrity of public discourse.
This incident is a stark reminder of the need for vigilance when consuming content online. As AI-generated videos and deepfake technology become more sophisticated, it will become increasingly difficult to discern what is real from what is fabricated. Social media users should be aware of the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly, particularly when it involves high-profile figures like Karoline Leavitt.
In conclusion, the claim that Karoline Leavitt told Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré to “sit down, boy” is nothing more than an elaborate fabrication designed to generate viral engagement. The evidence, or lack thereof, clearly points to the fact that this incident never took place.
As the role of AI in content creation continues to evolve, it’s crucial for both media consumers and content creators to be responsible in their sharing and consumption of information. In this case, the viral video serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of digital manipulation in an era where truth can be easily distorted by technology.
As of now, there is no credible proof that such an exchange ever occurred, and any claims to the contrary should be viewed with a critical eye.
