Former President Donald Trump is transforming artificial intelligence into a powerful political instrument, employing it to enhance his communication and refine his digital image with remarkable success, according to specialists.
Recently, he shared an elaborately produced, AI-created video on Truth Social, portraying himself crowned, at the controls of a fighter jet emblazoned with “King Trump,” and releasing what looked like waste onto demonstrators below – an apparent nod to the widespread demonstrations that attracted millions of participants.
This particular upload was not a standalone incident. Rather, it signifies a calculated advancement in Trump’s online approach, according to analysts, integrating AI-produced visual displays with the aggressive, meme-centric manner that has characterized his political messaging for almost ten years.
During a Monday press conference, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson came to the video’s defense. He stated, “One could contend he is likely the most proficient individual to have ever utilized social media in this capacity.” He added, “He employs satire to convey a message. He is not advocating for the assassination of his political adversaries.”
Trump downplayed the demonstrations, informing reporters on Sunday, “I am not a monarch. I exert immense effort to elevate our nation. That is the entirety of it.”
Artificial Intelligence Utilized as a Political Instrument
Trump’s increasing dependence on AI-produced material has emerged as a key characteristic of his online activity. Over recent months, he has disseminated various AI-generated images and videos – portraying himself as a , a , triumphing in the – to solidify his political image and ridicule his detractors. The previous month, he shared an AI video featuring House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries with an artificial mustache and sombrero, which Jeffries and civil liberties organizations denounced as racially insensitive.
A portion of these uploads contained inaccurate information concerning policies, such as a video advocating for a purported “medbed”—a hospital technology that is fictional but has circulated as a conspiracy theory across online platforms.
Prior this year, Trump distributed footage of “Trump Gaza,” which envisioned the Gaza Strip as a resort similar to those in Dubai. The video, initially conceived by independent creators as a satirical take on Trump’s discourse, was re-shared by the President and largely seen as an endorsement of calls to “flatten” Gaza and establish a “Riviera of the Middle East.” This video elicited censure from both Western and Arab leaders.
Cayce Myers, a communication professor at Virginia Tech, cautions that these video productions gain greater “engagement” and “impact” compared to static images, potentially initiating a novel phase in political communication.
However, through this method, Trump and his communication staff can utilize AI to connect with younger electoral demographics. Myers conveyed to TIME, “It forms part of a broader discussion regarding how Generation Z voters perceive themselves.” He added, “Generation Z distinguishes itself significantly from older age groups, and they also appear to possess a stronger inclination for such forms of commentary, particularly visual commentary.”
This alteration indicates how political discourse has evolved in its style and acceptance over the last few years. He remarked, “I believe we are currently in a political climate where the demand for political material, which would have been considered objectionable in past generations, is now acceptable.”
Bret Schafer, a senior fellow specializing in media and digital disinformation at the Alliance for Securing Democracy, characterizes this as a “total transformation” in the mechanics of political communication.
He stated, “The deployment of memes and content once confined to platforms like Reddit has now permeated the discussions of elected officials.” He continued, “I do not believe it benefits our national political discourse to embrace the online mannerisms of podcasters, vloggers, and partisan commentators.”
An Emerging Realm for Disinformation
Specialists caution that Trump’s increasing deployment of AI aligns with swift advancements in generative technology. Ben Colman, CEO of the deepfake-detection company Reality Defender, notes that novel instruments – including OpenAI’s Sora 2, a sophisticated text-to-video generator – are generating more authentic and readily available AI-driven media than previously possible.
Colman informed TIME, “The quality is superior, but this enhanced quality serves highly problematic applications.” He added, “Generative AI and deepfakes are expediting the spread of misinformation, fraudulent schemes, and assaults targeting elected representatives, minority groups, and women. These platforms function essentially as marketplaces for engagement, and pursuing attention for radical perspectives offers a greater return.”
This proliferation of AI-fueled propaganda introduces novel complexities for regulatory bodies. As per Myers, the Trump Administration’s stance on AI has largely involved minimal intervention, prioritizing private-sector progress over supervision. efforts have concentrated on limiting “woke” influence in state-funded AI initiatives and asserting that the U.S. ought to “attain worldwide supremacy in artificial intelligence.”
Concurrently, Elon Musk, a former member of the Trump administration, has aligned his firm xAI with comparable ideological communication. Its conversational AI platform, Grok, has faced censure for disseminating provocative material and right-wing conspiracy narratives – on one occasion displaying what users termed a “Nazi bender.” As generative video instruments grow more affordable and sophisticated, Myers forecasts that the political application of AI will only escalate. He stated, “It extends beyond a mere isolated publication.” He elaborated, “It involves establishing an agenda and fostering a nationwide conversation surrounding a specific matter. It utilizes a form of humorous satire via AI-generated video to influence that agenda.”
