Trump uses AI images and social posts to target critics and push policies
The president shared AI-generated depictions of rivals and himself, while accusing media outlets of spreading falsehoods.
By Madison Lewis ·
Donald Trump has frequently accused the press of spreading misinformation during his time in office. Since returning to the White House in 2025, he has continued to make claims that fact-checkers dispute while using digital tools to shape public perception.
A review by Reuters found that Trump mentioned Joe Biden approximately 900 times between his return to office and September 2026. The current president often used nicknames such as "Crooked Joe" and "Sleepy Joe" in these references. He also shared artificial intelligence images that portrayed the former president in negative ways. Other targets included Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Gavin Newsom, and Giorgia Meloni.
Trump shared an AI-generated video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, a post that drew widespread criticism. He later stated he "didn't see" that specific part of the clip. In another instance, he posted an AI-edited image showing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gazing at him. He also criticized Pope Leo on Truth Social, calling the pontiff "weak on crime" and saying he preferred the Pope's brother because of his political stance.
The president has used AI to create images of himself in various roles, including a king, Superman, and the Pope. One controversial image showed him in a healing pose, which he described as looking like "him as a doctor" rather than Jesus. He also shared a video of himself embracing cats and dogs, referencing a claim he made about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, eating pets during the 2024 campaign.
Trump has used similar digital tools to promote specific policy narratives. He shared an AI video depicting Gaza as a luxury seaside resort called "Trump Gaza," featuring himself alongside Benjamin Netanyahu and Elon Musk. This followed his proposal for a US takeover of Gaza and the displacement of its Palestinian population. He has also promoted claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa, showing President Cyril Ramaphosa images that included events from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The White House and official government accounts have joined in sharing AI-generated content. In response to criticism about posting memes, the White House stated, "Nowhere in the Constitution does it say we can't post banger memes." The administration has also targeted news organizations it deems critical. Trump sought to restrict access for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW, accusing them of reporting falsehoods.
Individual reporters have faced personal criticism from the president. In a Truth Social video, Trump called a female Bloomberg journalist "piggy" after she questioned him about the Jeffrey Epstein files. On NBC's Meet the Press, Trump walked out of an interview after failing to provide evidence for his claim that the California mayoral race was rigged.
