Trump uses AI videos to mock critics and reshape political messaging

President Donald Trump has begun using AI-generated videos as a central component of his political strategy, posting content that depicts him in fantastical scenarios while mocking critics and protesters. This marks a significant evolution in political communication, as experts warn that Trump’s approach is normalizing AI-driven propaganda and potentially reshaping how political leaders engage with voters, particularly younger demographics.

What you should know: Trump’s recent AI content includes increasingly provocative imagery designed to amplify his political persona.

• Over the weekend, he posted an AI video showing himself wearing a crown, piloting a fighter jet labeled “King Trump,” and dropping what appeared to be excrement on protesters below—likely referencing nationwide “No Kings” rallies.
• Previous AI-generated content has depicted Trump as a pope, a warrior, and winning the Nobel Peace Prize, while also targeting political opponents with controversial imagery.
• Last month, he shared an AI video of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a fake mustache and sombrero, which civil rights groups condemned as racist.

Why this matters: Political communication experts say Trump’s AI strategy represents a fundamental shift in how elected officials communicate with the public.

• “The use of memes and the use of what we used to consider stuff that would exist in the worlds of Reddit, now has drifted into the discourse of elected leaders,” says Bret Schafer, senior fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a nonpartisan organization focused on democratic resilience.
• Cayce Myers, professor of communication at Virginia Tech, notes that these videos have more “traction” and “resonance” than static images, particularly with Generation Z voters who “seem to have a greater appetite for that kind of commentary.”

The misinformation concern: Some of Trump’s AI content has promoted false information alongside political messaging.

• One video promoted a so-called “medbed”—hospital technology that doesn’t exist but has been a conspiracy theory in QAnon circles.
• Earlier this year, Trump shared an AI-generated video of “Trump Gaza,” which imagined the Gaza Strip as a Dubai-style resort and was widely interpreted as endorsing his suggestion to “level” Gaza and develop a “Riviera of the Middle East.”

What they’re saying: Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump’s approach at a Monday press conference.

• “You can argue he’s probably the most effective person who’s ever used social media for that,” Johnson said. “He is using satire to make a point. He is not calling for the murder of his political opponents.”
• Trump dismissed criticism Sunday, telling reporters: “I’m not a king. I work my ass off to make our country great. That’s all it is.”

The technology factor: Experts warn that rapidly improving AI tools are making this type of content more accessible and realistic.

• Ben Colman, CEO of deepfake-detection firm Reality Defender, says new tools like OpenAI’s Sora 2 are producing “better quality, but better quality for really bad use cases.”
• “Generative AI and deepfakes are accelerating misinformation, scams, and attacks on elected officials, minorities, and women,” Colman explains.

Looking ahead: The Trump Administration’s hands-off approach to AI regulation could accelerate this trend.

• Executive Orders have focused on achieving “global dominance in artificial intelligence” while curbing “woke” influence in government-funded AI projects.
• Myers predicts political AI use will expand as tools become cheaper: “It’s creating an agenda and creating a national dialog around a particular issue. It’s using a kind of comedic satire through AI generative video to shape that agenda.”