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AI imagines Americans ‘slaving away’ in Nike, Tesla, Apple factories amid Donald Trump’s tariff row

Social media users claim that Chinese individuals created AI videos depicting Americans working at Nike, Tesla, and Apple factories.

Updated on: Apr 11, 2025, 14:43:22 IST
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The US-China trade war has intensified following President Donald Trump's imposition of a 145% tariff on Chinese imports and the Asian nation's response with 125% additional tariffs on US goods. Amid the tariff row, an AI video allegedly created by a Chinese social media user showing Americans ‘slaving away’ at Nike, Tesla, and Apple factories surfaced on the internet.

Snapshots from AI video showing Americans as labours. (Screengrab)
Snapshots from AI video showing Americans as labours. (Screengrab)

The video opens to show people wearing T-shirts with Nike logos and hats with American flag making shoes while eating chips and sodas. Throughout the AI video, similar scenes unfold that show people working in different factories. It ends with a shot that shows the “Make America Rich Again” slogan above worn-out boards of prominent American companies, showing a dystopian future.

Also Read: Racist campaign mocks Donald Trump's tariffs: AI memes of exhausted Americans at factories go viral

Take a look at the video:

How did social media react?

A third posted, “Are Americans willing to do these jobs? I see factories with automation and robots in the comments, but that would take years and years... So I'm a little confused as to what will happen.” A fourth wrote, “Not sure that poking fun at American workers is what they want to do… We are their largest consumer.”

China's revenge move:

Announcing the increase in tariff on American goods, the Chinese finance ministry, as reported by Reuters, said, “The U.S. imposition of abnormally high tariffs on China seriously violates international and economic trade rules, basic economic laws and common sense and is completely unilateral bullying and coercion."

“If the US continues to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods exported to the US, China will ignore it,” the minister added.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta

Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.

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Discover the latest Trending News, viral videos, social media stories and unusual events from India and around the world. Stay updated with the topics everyone is talking about.
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