Fact-Check: Video of CDS Anil Chauhan Mocking Trump and the US Is Altered

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A video of the Indian Army's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan mocking US President Donald Trump and the US' system in an interview with India Today is being shared on social media.What does he say?: In the video, General Chauhan says that President Trump or JD Vance do not hold any power and that Benjamin Netanyahu runs the global order. Here's what he said,General Anil Chauhan"The whole world knows that US President does not hold any power. Prime Minister Netanyahu is the defacto ruler of USA, a close Indian ally & he runs global order. JD Vance visiting Pakistan means nothing. (SIC)"An archived version of this claim can be seen here. (Archived versions of more claims can be seen here and here)Is it true?: No, the video is altered and does not show authentic footage of General Anil Chauhan speaking to India Today.This Viral Video Doesn’t Show PM Narendra Modi Receiving Facial MassageHow did we find out the truth?: We ran a keyword search, and we did not find any credible reports or videos of General Chauhan mocking Trump and the US system. We ran a reverse image search on the video and found an interview with General Chauhan on India Today from 18 April 2026, featuring the same visuals. #EXCLUSIVE | Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has underscored the need for India to prepare for the next phase of 'Operation Sindoor', stating that the armed forces must look beyond past operations and gear up for future challenges. In an exclusive conversation… pic.twitter.com/2S9yEbPjLv— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) April 18, 2026In the original clip, General Chauhan emphasises the importance of India preparing for the next phase of Operation Sindoor and that the armed forces must gear up for future challenges. He does not mention the US or President Trump.PIB's Clarification: The Press Information Bureau's fact-checking wing also issued a clarification stating the video is a deepfake and that the Chief of Defence Staff has made no such statement. The clarification posted by PIB on XConclusion: The viral clip has been digitally altered, and General Anil Chauhan has made no such statements.2022 Clip Falsely Viral as TMC Leader Warning People Not to Vote for BJP in WB(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9540511818 , or e-mail it to us at webqoof@thequint.com and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)