Over Labor Day weekend, a strange video started circulating online showing someone in white clothing tossing what looked like a black bag from a second-story window of the White House. The clip quickly went viral, fueling wild theories ranging from secret documents being dumped to jokes about Melania Trump making an escape, as reported by CNN.
At first, White House officials tried to tamp down speculation by saying it was nothing more than routine maintenance. A staffer told reporters that a contractor working inside the building was simply clearing out old items while the president was away. That explanation might have ended things, but President Trump’s own comments complicated the story.
When asked directly about the clip, Trump claimed the video must be fake. He insisted that the windows of the White House are “sealed, bulletproof, and weigh hundreds of pounds,” making it impossible for anyone to toss something out. He even suggested the footage might have been created with artificial intelligence, an idea that only fueled more debate online.
Experts, however, aren’t convinced. Digital forensics analyst Hany Farid from UC Berkeley reviewed the video and said it showed no signs of AI tampering. The shadows, movements, and other visual details all lined up naturally, pointing strongly to the video being genuine. That finding leaves the public stuck between two conflicting narratives: a simple explanation from staff versus a firm denial from the president himself.
The whole episode highlights how fragile trust in official statements has become. In an age of deepfakes and viral misinformation, it’s easy for people to believe anything suspicious online might be fabricated. But when leaders themselves push the “AI” angle in response to clear video evidence, it can blur the line even more between fact and fiction.
There’s also the practical issue of security. The White House is one of the most heavily protected buildings in the world, so the sight of someone casually tossing a bag out a window feels unsettling, even if it turns out to be nothing more than trash. Until the administration gives a clearer explanation, the mystery of the black bag is likely to keep fueling speculation—and more memes—across social media.