The Trump Campaign Went on an AI Image Spree Over the Labor Day Weekend

Sep 03, 2024

Matt Growcoot

Three side-by-side images depicting anti-Kamala Harris messages. The first image shows a figure holding a weapon, with text "No one is safe with Kamala's open borders." The second shows a woman in a red hat with a Soviet emblem, and the third is an aerial view of a large crowd in front of a building labeled "Emergency" with text claiming Kamala Harris pledges free healthcare to "illegals" and "they're coming to collect." All images include a "Vote Trump 2024" message. — AI-generated images shared by Donald Trump and Elon Musk this weekend.

Presidential hopeful Donald Trump has posted a series of AI images over the Labor Day weekend, leaning on the technology to drive home his message to voters.

It began on Saturday when the Republican nominee shared an AI image of a long line outside of a hospital to Truth Social and Instagram. Text overlayed on the pictures reads: “Kamala Harris pledged free healthcare for illegals. They’re coming to collect.” The image is AI-generated which is obvious thanks to it looking more like an illustration than a photo and some of the details — like the vehicles and road signs — are distorted. The hospital does have a legible “emergency” sign on the facade. It’s unclear which AI image generator Trump’s team uses.

A social media post by Donald J. Trump features an image of a hospital with an "EMERGENCY" sign at the entrance. A long line of people extends from the hospital entrance. Text on the image reads, "KAMALA HARRIS PLEDGED FREE HEALTHCARE FOR ILLEGALS. THEY'RE COMING TO COLLECT. VOTE TRUMP 2024." The post has metrics at the bottom showing 5.42k ReTruths and 14.9k Likes, dated August 31, 2024, at 11:25 AM. — From Truth Social.

That same day (Saturday) saw Trump share an image of a man holding a knife walking behind a woman in a dark alley to X (formerly Twitter), Truth Social, and Instagram. The text reads: “No one is safe with Kamala’s open border.” While it’s not totally obvious the picture is AI-generated, no previous version of the image exists on the internet — according to Google reverse image search. There is also a storm drain on the floor that appears distorted.

A dark alley scene featuring a menacing silhouette with a knife approaching a woman walking away. The text reads, "NO ONE IS SAFE WITH KAMALA'S OPEN BORDER. VOTE TRUMP 2024." The post shows engagement metrics and is dated August 31, 2024, 11:25 AM. — From Truth Social.

Real Photos and Elon Musk

Also on Saturday, Trump shared a picture of a group of Muslim men burning the American flag. The caption reads: “Meet your new neighbors if Kamala wins.” This image is actually a real photo taken at a protest in 2012 in Karachi, Pakistan by Rizwan Tabassum for the AFP and Getty Images.

A tweet from Donald J. Trump features an image of a group of people burning an American flag. Overlaid text reads: "Meet your new neighbors if Kamala wins. Vote Trump 2024." The tweet includes its metrics: 17K comments, 82K retweets, 550K likes, and 13K bookmarks. — From X.

Elon Musk, who has endorsed Trump’s candidacy, shared an AI image of Harris wearing a communist uniform yesterday (Monday). “Kamala vows to be a communist dictator on day one. Can you believe she wears that outfit!?” Musk writes on the post.

A Twitter post from user @elonmusk features a woman wearing a military-style red outfit and hat with a hammer and sickle emblem. Text in the tweet reads: "Kamala vows to be a communist dictator on day one. Can you believe she wears that outfit!?. — From X.

It is worth noting that none of the AI images shared to Trump’s accounts or Elon Musk’s were marked as synthetic. Many on X were asking if Community Notes would label Musk’s image as an AI-generated parody but as of Tuesday, there is no such label.

The Trump campaign now appears to have fully embraced AI images as a communication method. It marks the first time ever the technology has been deployed during an election campaign.

Last month, Trump shared AI-generated images of young women wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the words “Swifties for Trump” in a post that falsely suggested the pop superstar Taylor Swift has endorsed him.