Donald Trump shared numerous AI-generated materials on various social media platforms over the weekend in the hopes of bolstering his campaign and chances to be re-elected as America's next president. Among the many posts shared by the former POTUS, features Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.
However, this is ad is a deepfake.
Many social media platforms have previously vowed to take down AI misinformation found online. It should be noted that these posts were published on Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter), as well as Trump's own Truth Social.
Trump Resorts to AI-Generated Media Campaign and Disinformation
A wave of misinformation and AI-generated content was posted by Trump on his accounts on different platforms over the weekend, sowing controversies and issues among the public. In one of his posts via X, Trump shared an AI-generated photo of what seems to be current Vice President Kamala Harris making a communist speech to a Chicago crowd.
This AI-generated photo clearly depicts the red and yellow hammer and sickle. The Verge reported that Trump would not be made accountable for his election deepfake posts as his depictions were not "plausible," according to Public Citizen's Robert Weissman.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2024
Taylor Swift Deepfaked by Trump, Fake Endorsement for Swifties
In addition to this, another controversial post by Trump on Truth Social has stirred conversation on the internet. The image depicts a deepfaked Taylor Swift in an Uncle Sam costume while urging the public to "Vote for Donald Trump."
Trump also posted screenshots of satirical articles about Swifties, the term used to refer to Taylor Swift's fans, "turning" to support him.
That being said, The Verge claimed that Swift may have a chance to sue Trump because of this deepfaked image under California's Right of Publicity. As of press time, both sides have yet to issue a comment regarding the deepfaked image.
Donald Trump, Misinformation, and His Presidential Bid
Following Trump's loss to current President Joe Biden, it is infamously known that Trump called his MAGA supporters to arms. This led to his supporters to storming the Capitol to protest his loss. The infamous Capitol attack, which took place in 2021, resulted in Trump losing access to social networking platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
This led to Trump establishing new platforms online that supported his needs and allowed his voice to be heard. Initially, he became a laughing stock as he launched a WordPress site. He later launched Truth Social, which has since become his main platform.
Trump has since been reinstated on Twitter (now X) as well as Meta's platforms. Elon Musk was one of the key reasons behind Trump receiving amnesty on X, offering him a platform yet again. The tech billionaire eventually wen on to announce his support for the former POTUS' re-election bid.
MAGA believers and Trump's supporters have been notorious for spreading fake news and AI-made content online. This time, however, it is Trump himself who is in the spotlight for spreading deepfaked images online. It is notable that Trump has tapped into pop culture, particularly dragging Taylor Swift and her fanbase into his campaign.
