On Sunday, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to unleash an astonishing 43 AI-generated images, targeting his critics and even threatening Iran. This latest flurry of posts included various deepfakes and caricatures, showcasing Trump alongside former presidents such as John F. Kennedy and George Washington, despite previous backlash over his use of AI content.
The posting marathon lasted from 11:16 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. ET, starting with an image that transformed CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins into social media figure Dylan Mulvaney—echoing a jab he made during a past White House Correspondents' Dinner. Trump continued with satirical AI drawings that poked fun at notable figures, including Bruce Springsteen, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and comedian Rosie O'Donnell. He even depicted late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Fallon in comical scenarios where they were broke and begging, despite the fact that both Kimmel and Fallon still have active shows.
Additionally, he issued a series of deepfake threat images against Iran, illustrating U.S. forces attacking Kharg Island and seizing Iranian oil tankers. Amid these posts, Trump also revived the notion of running for the presidency in 2028, an ambition restricted by constitutional term limits.
Several posts portrayed Trump as a pivotal leader comparable to historical figures. One AI-generated image branded "America First" featured Trump alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. In another, a contemporary image showed Trump next to John F. Kennedy without any explanation. The final post was a fictional movie poster titled “Trump X Washington,” suggesting that Trump was rescuing Washington.
In the midst of his AI flurry, Trump included a bar graph that criticized Senate Majority Leader John Thune, comparing the number of recess appointments made during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush to the zero made during his own term. Notably, the post omitted that no such appointments occurred during former President Joe Biden’s administration. Another entry presented Trump as a doctor pointing at a spine, with the caption implying that he aimed to restore integrity within the Republican Party.
Trump's frequent deployment of AI-created imagery on Truth Social has sparked significant controversy over the past year. A notable incident occurred in April when he shared an image portraying himself as Jesus Christ, which drew considerable criticism from various groups, resulting in its deletion. Shortly after, he posted another AI-generated image showing him with Jesus against the backdrop of the American flag. He also shared images of himself and his cabinet members swimming in the renovated Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, depicting it negatively in relation to previous Democratic leadership. Earlier this month, Trump shared a 90-second AI-generated video presenting himself as a doctor diagnosing "Trump Derangement Syndrome" among celebrity critics, utilizing deepfakes of various notable figures.
This recent activity is part of a broader pattern that intertwines Trump's social media strategy with the use of AI technology, fueling discussions on the implications of such content in political discourse.
