Biden Ex-Adviser Falls for AI-Generated Viking Bathtub Chase Video
Neera Tanden, a former adviser to President Joe Biden, became an internet laughingstock this week. She mistakenly commented on a bizarre AI-generated video as if it depicted real events.
The Bizarre AI Video That Fooled a Top Official
The viral video shows a surreal scene. ICE agents appear to chase a man dressed in a Viking costume. He is sitting inside a wheeled bathtub, rolling down a street in Minnesota. An AI newsreader narrates the fake event with dramatic flair.
"We are live over downtown Minneapolis where, yes, that is a protester in a Viking costume riding what appears to be a porcelain bathtub on skate wheels — 15 ICE agents are on his heels," the synthetic newscaster exclaimed. The voice even urged viewers to "watch the slush!" as the bathtub sped away.
Tanden's Serious Reaction to the Obvious Hoax
Neera Tanden saw the video and took it completely seriously. She posted a comment that she later deleted. In it, she made a grave observation about the state of governance.
"50 years from now, people will look at this video and recognize our government had gone mad," she wrote, believing the chase was real. Her comment suggested she thought ICE agents were pursuing a protester in a bathtub and that the Air Force might have been involved.
Internet Users Mock the Credulous Response
Social media users quickly piled on with ridicule and criticism. Many pointed out the video was clearly artificial intelligence "slop."
"Certain segments of the population just are not equipped to handle obvious AI slop," one user wrote pointedly. Another mocked, "50 years from now, people will look at these retweets and recognize that the Biden admin was stocked full of morons."
A third expressed disbelief at Tanden's former high-level access. "Unbelievable that she ever reached the highest echelons of our government," the user stated.
Real ICE Crackdown in Minnesota Provides Context
The AI video emerged against a backdrop of real, heightened ICE activity in Minnesota. Federal authorities have conducted a major crackdown there over recent weeks.
This operation continues despite controversy. It follows the killing of Minneapolis woman Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Rather than pulling back, the Department of Homeland Security surged more resources into the state.
DHS officials stated that ICE arrested several gang members in Minnesota. Some of those arrested had convictions for violent crimes. However, the aggressive tactics have upset local residents. Agents have been seen marching on streets and entering places like restaurants, daycare centers, and school areas.
The contrast between the absurd AI fiction and the serious, contentious real-world operations made Tanden's gaffe even more striking to online observers.
