The Brian Lehrer Show Trump's A.I. Video "Propaganda"
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Oct 22, 2025 Stuart A. Thompson, a New York Times reporter focused on online influence, dives into the controversial use of AI-generated imagery by Donald Trump. He discusses a bizarre video featuring Trump as a crown-wearing pilot, examining its impact on supporters. Thompson shares how AI content targeting Democratic leaders, like voice-cloning Chuck Schumer, cleverly engages and riles up audiences. He argues that such content blurs the line between humor and propaganda, highlighting its potential to shape political narratives across parties.
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AI Imagery Became Central To Messaging
- Trump's use of AI imagery began in his reelection campaign and expanded as the tools improved.
- He leverages realistic AI content to quickly craft provocative visual narratives that supporters share widely.
Voice Cloning And Outsourced Deepfakes
- AI tools now clone voices and create deepfake scenes used to attack political opponents.
- The White House reposts such content even when origins trace to outside influencers.
Ridiculous Content Still Spreads
- Even obviously fake or ridiculous AI content can dominate feeds and fool people.
- Visual potency and novelty make such content highly shareable and convincing.