Former President Donald Trump has been notably active on social media as the Democratic National Convention takes place in Chicago, although some of his posts have strayed from factual accuracy.
In the lead-up to the convention, Trump shared a digitally manipulated image portraying Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at what is suggested to be a communist rally, featuring a red banner emblazoned with a communist symbol. This was preceded by a phony video in which Trump appears to dance alongside billionaire supporter Elon Musk.
Just before the convention began, Trump shared an image of Taylor Swift dressed as Uncle Sam and falsely claimed her endorsement for his campaign, which she had not given.
These posts highlight Trump’s ongoing strategy of disseminating misleading images produced by artificial intelligence to undermine his opponents and create a false sense of support for his own campaign. This approach aligns with his history of amplifying messages from conspiracy theory adherents and election deniers to energize his base with alternative narratives.
Many of the images and videos Trump has circulated are clearly fabricated or cartoonish. However, experts express concern about the increase of AI-generated content on political social media, warning that it can facilitate the spread of more plausible falsehoods. The proliferation of such deceptive media risks diminishing public trust in authentic information.
Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, a consumer rights advocacy group, remarked on the dangers posed by AI-generated disinformation, indicating that it has the potential to undermine elections in significant ways.
One AI-generated post from Trump featured women in “Swifties for Trump” shirts, showcasing a fake image of Swift with a message urging people to vote for Trump. Trump embraced this false endorsement by stating, “I accept!”
Despite Trump’s claims, Swift, currently on a world tour with a show scheduled in London, has not made any endorsements in the U.S. presidential race. Her representatives did not respond to inquiries about the situation.
Republicans outside Trump’s circle view his targeting of a popular figure like Swift as a strategy to divert attention to him amid a Democratic event. Doug Heye, a seasoned Republican operative, noted that leveraging Swift’s fame serves Trump’s campaign well in the current media landscape.
Moreover, Trump’s supporters have generated their own AI-created content, depicting Swift as a Trump supporter and Harris in negative light. This trend has raised alarms among political analysts regarding the implications of AI on upcoming elections.
While some lawmakers have introduced bills aimed at regulating the use of AI in political contexts, none have made significant progress. The Federal Communications Commission has suggested that political advertisers disclose their use of AI in commercials, although this would not cover social media ads.
Though various social media platforms have policies regarding AI-generated content, adherence is inconsistent and misleading images of both Trump and Harris have garnered significant attention, often without viewers realizing they are not authentic.
Historically, Swift has been politically engaged, supporting Biden in the 2020 election and criticizing Trump. Despite remaining neutral this election cycle, her influence remains significant, with conservative voices expressing concern over a potential Swift endorsement for Democrats.
In response to Trump’s recent posts, some of her fans have taken to social media to declare their intention to support the former president, a movement the Trump campaign is eager to capitalize on.
Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, did not directly address questions regarding the misleading images but touted the “Swifties for Trump” initiative as a growing movement.