Former President Donald Trump discussed the latest controversy over purported AI-generated photos of Taylor Swift that appeared to support his 2024 presidential campaign during an interview with Fox News. Upon being questioned about his concerns regarding Swift’s potential legal action, Trump denied any role in the creation or dissemination of the photos. “Aside from the fact that someone else created them, I don’t know anything about them”, he said. “I did not create them,” Trump further declared, refusing to reveal who was responsible for the pictures. He went on to voice his worries about the risks posed by AI, mentioning instances in which it had assumed his identity in different settings.
Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesperson, emphasized the popularity of the so-called “Swifties for Trump” movement, even though Taylor Swift has publicly opposed Trump in the past. Cheung also took the opportunity to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris for her role in national issues.
The AI-generated pictures, which showed Taylor Swift backing Trump in various situations, first surfaced on Trump’s social media network, Truth Social. A mocking graphic stated that “Swifties” were supporting Trump after an alleged ISIS attempt to disrupt Swift’s Vienna concert was thwarted by officials earlier in the month. Another image featured Swift dressed as Uncle Sam, announcing her support for Trump. It became difficult to distinguish between fact and fantasy because actual and AI-generated visuals were mixed together.
This incident adds to the growing concern surrounding the use of AI in politics, with Trump himself acknowledging the broader implications of AI impersonations as he navigates his 2024 campaign. The controversy highlights both the influence of AI technology and the volatile intersection of politics and pop culture.