Trump’s AI propaganda machine: How fake imagery became a weapon of politics

Trump weaponizes AI-generated media

In the three years since artificial intelligence tools went mainstream, Donald Trump has turned them into a key part of his political arsenal. According to a New York Times review, the president has shared at least 62 AI-generated images or videos on his Truth Social account since 2022 — many depicting exaggerated versions of himself, distorted attacks on opponents, or campaign fantasies. These aren’t deepfakes hiding in the shadows; they’re viral visual stunts meant to provoke, entertain, and dominate online attention, the New York Times reported.

From memes to manipulation

Trump’s AI. posts range from absurd to alarming. One recent video portrayed him as a fighter pilot dropping excrement on protesters. Others showed him as a king, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, or even leading a mariachi band after mocking comments by Democratic lawmakers. Many of these images are obviously fake — labelled “Generated by AI” by fact-checkers — yet they circulate widely, often fooling or confusing supporters. Some users have commented under such posts asking if the scenes were real, underscoring how blurred the line between parody and propaganda has become.

Propaganda that goes viral

Experts say Trump’s AI use represents a turning point in political communication. “It’s designed to go viral — absurd, clearly fake, but packed with underlying messaging,” said Henry Ajder, founder of the AI consultancy Latent Space Advisory. By using humour and exaggeration, Trump’s AI-generated content spreads across both supportive and outraged audiences. Every share — whether mocking or defending — amplifies his reach. Adrian Shahbaz of Freedom House noted, “A controversial post gets shared by both people who enjoy it and those who are outraged by it. That’s twice the engagement.”

Normalizing synthetic media in politics

The White House defends Trump’s online behaviour as part of his “creative communication” strategy. “No leader has used social media more effectively than President Trump,” said Liz Huston, the assistant press secretary. But analysts warn that such normalization of synthetic content from the highest office legitimises its use worldwide. Already, politicians in other countries have used AI to visualise campaign fears — like depicting overrun cities or imagined crises — blurring the boundary between fiction and political reality.

From satire to disinformation

While some AI memes are clearly meant as jokes, others tread dangerously close to misinformation. Trump recently reposted a fake AI video showing the arrest of former President Barack Obama — leading some followers to believe it was authentic. Another video promoted “medbeds,” a conspiracy theory about miraculous healing devices. The clip was deleted after public backlash, though the White House later said Trump had personally shared it without further comment.

The bigger picture: truth vs virality

Behind the spectacle lies a deeper shift — politics as performance powered by technology. AI tools now allow world leaders to manufacture scenes, symbols, and spectacles at almost no cost. For Trump, this has created a feedback loop: the more outrageous the content, the more it dominates the news cycle. Whether used as satire, distraction, or digital propaganda, the result is the same — a world where the image moves faster than the truth.