As Democrats convene in Chicago for their national convention, former President Donald Trump has ramped up his activity on social media, heavily relying on manipulated images and AI-generated content to attract attention.
In a recent post, Trump shared a fabricated image depicting a person resembling Vice President Kamala Harris addressing what appeared to be a communist rally under a red banner adorned with a communist symbol. This was followed by a doctored video featuring Trump dancing beside billionaire Elon Musk, a prominent supporter.
Just before the convention commenced, Trump circulated a manipulated image of pop star Taylor Swift dressed in an Uncle Sam outfit while falsely claiming her endorsement for his campaign, an endorsement Swift has never given.
These incidents highlight Trump’s ongoing strategy of using artificial intelligence tools to disseminate misleading content, attack his opponents, and create a facade of support for his campaign. This approach echoes a familiar tactic where Trump amplifies messages from conspiracy theorists and election deniers to score political points and appease his base with alternate realities.
Though some of the images and videos shared by Trump are transparently doctored, the proliferation of AI-generated content on political social media has alarmed experts. These experts warn that such content can propagate insidious and believable disinformation, eroding public trust in what they see and hear.
Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, a progressive consumer rights advocacy group, voiced her concerns about the implications of these AI-generated deepfakes. “The AI-generated deepfakes of Taylor Swift are yet another example of AI’s power to create misinformation that deceives and defrauds voters,” she said. “The potential harms to our society that could result from such misinformation, including abuses of our elections, are wide-reaching and immensely damaging.”
Trump, on his Truth Social account, shared an AI-generated image on Sunday depicting women in “Swifties for Trump” shirts, a nod to Swift’s dedicated fanbase. Another fake image showed Swift dressed as Uncle Sam, with text urging, “Taylor wants YOU to VOTE for DONALD TRUMP.” Trump added the caption, “I accept!” to his repost.
Despite one of the images carrying a small satire label, Trump did not clarify whether his post was meant to be humorous. Swift, currently on a world tour with a show in London, has not endorsed a candidate in this election. Her spokesperson did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
To Republicans outside Trump’s inner circle, the focus on Swift serves as a tactic to draw attention to Trump amid the Democratic convention’s spotlight on Harris and the Democrats. “This is how he and the campaign can wrest back news cycles,” said Doug Heye, a veteran Republican spokesperson and operative. “I hesitate to say to their credit, but I think we all know, if you want to be talked about, Taylor Swift is a great way to do it.”
A spokesperson for Harris did not address questions regarding Trump’s use of AI-generated images.
Trump’s supporters are known for creating and sharing AI-generated content, some of which end up being reposted by the former president himself. Before Trump shared the bogus Swift images, his supporters had already been circulating AI-generated videos and images showing the pop star ostensibly supporting Trump, as well as numerous images of Harris in communist-themed settings.
The rise of artificial intelligence has long been a concern for political operatives, who worry about its impact on elections. Though some members of Congress have pushed for regulations on the use of AI-generated images in politics, no such legislation has advanced significantly. The Federal Communications Commission has proposed a rule requiring political advertisers to disclose their use of AI in television and radio ads, but this would not extend to social media platforms.
While several social media companies have policies for labeling AI-generated content, these rules are not always enforced. As a result, misleading and lifelike images of both Trump and Harris continue to amass millions of views, often without users realizing they are fake.
Swift, who supported President Joe Biden in 2020 and has been critical of Trump in the past, remains a significant political figure. Prominent conservatives, concerned about her potential endorsement of the Democratic presidential ticket, have advised her against political involvement. Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro warned Swift earlier this year to avoid politics, while Sean Hannity urged her to reconsider backing Biden.
Some of Swift’s supporters have reacted to Trump’s posts by expressing their intention to vote for him. Trump’s campaign has seized upon this momentum, with spokesperson Steven Cheung describing “Swifties for Trump” as a “massive movement that grows bigger every single day.”
