Donald Trump’s recent activity on Truth Social has seen a flood of AI-generated content, creating a chaotic situation. On Sunday, he shared four screenshots from another user’s X account featuring pro-Trump Taylor Swift fans. One notable image displayed Swift, in an AI-generated format, dressed as Uncle Sam, pointing at the viewer.
In another post, Trump shared a collage of various AI-generated images depicting pro-Trump Swifties, paired with a headline that clearly labeled the content as “satire.” A different post featured AI-generated Swifties alongside a genuine pro-Trump Swiftie.
While the “Swifites for Trump” movement is not a dominant political force, it does exist. Taylor Swift, the globe’s most popular musician, sells millions of albums in an era when physical album sales are declining. Her tours consistently sell out worldwide, and the filmed version of The Eras Tour was a box office hit.
Swifties are not a monolithic group. Their only commonality is a deep love for Swift’s music. Given her immense popularity, her fan base is naturally politically diverse. Numerous TikTok videos show Swift fans expressing support for Trump while lip-syncing to her songs like “Mastermind” and “I Did Something Bad,” with similar content seen from fans of other political figures.
It’s unclear if Trump genuinely believed the AI-generated images he shared, which mix real and fabricated photos. What is evident is his recent trend of posting AI-generated content on Truth Social.
This behavior mirrors trends seen on Facebook, especially among older users, who frequently share unrealistic or dystopian images. For instance, a common theme involves Kamala Harris depicted in front of Soviet-style flags. One X account promoted by Trump also featured AI-generated images of Harris as a Chinese-style communist.
AI-generated images are now widespread but tend to be unconvincing and not significant sources of disinformation. These images don’t aim to deceive others but rather validate an imagined reality for both creators and their audiences.
Pro-Trump supporters use AI to fabricate scenarios like Swift endorsing Trump, while others create images portraying Harris as a communist dictator. Essentially, AI image generators have become a tool for those seeking quick and easy manipulations, bypassing the need for more complex photo-editing skills.
