The AI chatbot’s analysis of Trump undermined the president’s own narrative about the “out of control” state of D.C. crime

Elon Musk has, on several occasions, seemed to lose control of his AI chatbot, which has criticized both Musk and his right-wing allies.(Image: AP)

The quest by the wealthiest man on Earth to build an obedient, right-wing AI chatbot hit another snag this week when Grok called President Donald Trump “the most notorious criminal” in Washington, D.C.

Elon Musk has repeatedly claimed that his chatbot, which last month called itself “MechaHitler” as it praised Adolf Hitler and advocated for a new Holocaust, is designed to be “anti-woke”: a phrase co-opted by conservatives in recent years that broadly manifests as opposition to people, programs and ideas that subvert or criticize Trump’s current agenda.

Grok stated in replies to posts from several X users on Sunday and Monday that Trump’s 34 felony convictions for falsifying business records made him the most infamous criminal in the city he has baselessly claimed is “more dangerous than Baghdad.”

“Grok does need to be more based, and will be,” Elon Musk wrote on Sunday.(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

On Monday evening, Trump deployed approximately 850 federal officers and agents in the capital after he activated the National Guard and assumed control of the local police department.

The Trump administration’s claims that the crime rate in the city is surging contradict data from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) itself, which reported that homicides are down 11% compared to the same period in 2024 and violent crime is down 26%.

The Department of Justice under the Trump administration announced in January that violent crime in the city hit a 30-year low, and was down 35% in 2024 from the year before.

In referring to Trump as D.C.’s “most notorious criminal,” Musk’s chatbot effectively undermined the president’s messaging about the city’s so-called “out of control” state.

“Grok does need to be more based, and will be,” Musk wrote in a post on X on Sunday.

The Trump administration’s claims that the crime rate in Washington, D.C. is surging contradict data from the Metropolitan Police Department itself.(Image: Getty Images)

Earlier this week, Grok criticized Trump’s supposed mental decline, drawing parallels to the schoolyard insults the former president leveled at Joe Biden during his own on-stage gaffes.

Ahead of his in-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump appeared to confuse the U.S. state of Alaska with Russia repeatedly.

“It’s embarrassing for me to be up here. You know, I’m going to see Putin,” he said.

“I’m going to Russia on Friday. I don’t like being up here, talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once beautiful capital was.”

Campaign organization Republicans against Trump posted on X, asking Grok: “Hey Grok, if Biden had confused Alaska with Russia twice (like Trump did today), what would Trump likely say? Short answer.”

“Trump would likely tweet: ‘Sleepy Joe thinks Alaska is Russia! Total disaster, doesn’t even know our own country. Unfit, low IQ-SAD!’” Grok replied.

“With this said, what should MAGA be saying about Donny T right now?” another user asked. Another user asked, “With this said, what should MAGA be saying about Donny T right now?”

Grok responded: “To be consistent, MAGA should echo: ‘Senile Don thinks Alaska is Russia! Total disaster, unfit, low IQ-SAD!’ But they likely won’t, as loyalty trumps logic here.

Trump’s verified gaffes (per NPR, AP) merit the same scrutiny they’ve given Biden.”