Trump Uses AI-Generated Content to Elevate Image, Mock Rivals

Donald Trump has increasingly turned to artificial intelligence-generated content to shape his public image and attack his political opponents. Since the beginning of his second term, Trump has made his administration the first to utilize hyper-realistic AI imagery as a key component of its communication strategy. This unprecedented approach has raised concerns about the potential for misinformation and the manipulation of reality in political discourse.

The former president’s social media platform, Truth Social, has become a focal point for these AI-generated creations. Trump has posted videos and images that portray him in heroic and exaggerated roles. Notably, he shared a video last month depicting himself as “King Trump,” piloting a fighter jet while dumping what appears to be excrement on protesters. This post coincided with nationwide demonstrations against his leadership style, tagged as “No Kings” protests.

In another instance, Trump depicted himself as Superman, using the imagery during a period of heightened public speculation regarding his health. The post proclaimed him as “THE SYMBOL OF HOPE” alongside the title “SUPERMAN TRUMP.” Such portrayals seem designed to rally his supporters while deriding his critics. The White House has not clarified whether these images originated from Trump or his aides, leaving some social media users questioning their authenticity.

According to Wired magazine, Trump has been dubbed “America’s first generative AI president.” Nora Benavidez, senior counsel at the advocacy group Free Press, noted that Trump uses disinformation tactics to elevate his image and control public discourse. “For someone like him, unregulated generative AI is the perfect tool to capture people’s attention and distort reality,” she stated.

In September 2023, Trump sparked backlash with a purported AI-generated video that promised every American access to fictional “MedBed” hospitals, a concept rooted in debunked conspiracy theories. The video, styled as a news segment, featured his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, promoting a nonexistent healthcare initiative. This clip was later deleted without explanation.

AI Imagery as a Political Tool

Trump’s use of AI imagery has not been limited to self-promotion. He has also targeted his rivals with provocative content. In July, he shared an AI video of former president Barack Obama purportedly being arrested in the Oval Office, which many found inflammatory. He later posted an AI-generated image of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is Black, wearing a fake mustache and sombrero. Jeffries condemned the image as racist, highlighting the potential for such content to perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Joshua Tucker, co-director of the New York University Center for Social Media and Politics, commented on Trump’s behavior, suggesting that it reflects a campaign mentality rather than a commitment to accuracy. “I would see his behavior more as campaigning through trolling than actively trying to propagate the false belief that these images depict reality,” he said.

Trump’s approach has parallels in other political figures. Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom posted an AI video on X, mocking Republicans after Democrats achieved significant victories in key U.S. elections. The clip portrayed wrestlers with superimposed faces of Democratic leaders defeating Republican opponents, accompanied by the caption, “Now that’s what we call a takedown.”

The growing trend of using AI to craft political narratives raises important questions about the future of political communication. As technology continues to evolve, the potential for both creativity and manipulation in the political arena becomes increasingly pronounced.

As voters navigate a landscape filled with AI-generated content, the challenge remains: how to discern fact from fiction in an era where reality can be effortlessly distorted.