The Rise of America’s First AI-Generated Content President: Donald Trump’s Unprecedented Digital Experimentation

Donald Trump, the 76-year-old (septuagenarian) former president known for his public aversion to digital tools like keyboards and computers, has inadvertently become a trailblazer in the realm of generative artificial intelligence (AI) as a political communicator. His recent forays into AI-generated videos have marked a new frontier in the intersection of technology and U.S. governance, raising questions about accountability, misinformation, and the boundaries of political expression.

Controversial AI Video Examples

Among Trump’s most notable AI-driven content are several high-profile, doctored videos that have circulated on his official channels:

• A Top Gun–themed clip depicting Trump piloting a fighter jet emblazoned with “KING TRUMP” on its fuselage, wearing a literal crown instead of a pilot’s helmet. The video purports to show the aircraft “dumping inconceivable amounts of shit” onto fictionalized “No Kings” protesters in New York’s Times Square, a crass and surreal depiction likely intended as political satire.

• A racially charged depiction of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, portrayed with a mustache and sombrero in a context that reinforces stereotypes.

• A dystopian “Trump Gaza” video, which blends fictional imagery with potentially misleading narratives about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

These examples underscore a pattern: Trump’s official social media presence increasingly relies on AI-generated content, often of low-brow or divisive quality.

Origins of AI Videos on Official Channels

The mechanics of how these AI videos reach Trump’s public platforms remain opaque. According to a senior White House official, Trump typically encounters such content—either on his Truth Social account or through unspecified external channels—saves it to his camera roll, and approves its release. More often, however, staff members identify and obtain clearance for posts before they are published on the president’s official accounts. Critically, Trump himself does not create the videos; his role is primarily to curate or endorse them.

The White House has declined to clarify how the Top Gun–style video specifically came to be, or who authorized its posting—a gap in transparency that raises questions about oversight.

Evolution of Trump’s Social Media Management

Trump’s social media habits have evolved over time. Unlike his “peak posting” era on Twitter (now X), when he personally crafted provocative messages, his current approach is more delegated. He now relies on dictation and annotated printouts for text, prone to occasional typos reminiscent of his infamous “covfefe” gaffe.

In the Twitter era (2015–2021), Trump wielded significant control over his account, with a team managing content on his behalf but ultimately subject to his approval. After his suspension following the January 6, 2021, insurrection, he launched Truth Social in October 2021, where he now delegates most social media duties to two key staff members:

• Dan Scavino: A longtime adviser who has ascended from assistant manager at Trump National Golf Club Westchester to director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, overseeing expanded social media responsibilities.

• Natalie Harp: Internally dubbed “the human printer,” a trusted aide who has emerged as a gatekeeper for content emanating from the administration.

A former Trump campaign official notes that while Trump’s direct social media involvement has diminished, his reliance on these staff members remains central: Laura Loomer, a MAGA-aligned loyalty figure, estimates that 95% of Truth Social posts are physically executed by Scavino and Harp—a far higher degree of delegation than during his Twitter heyday, when Trump himself authored a greater share of content.

Unanswered Questions and Risks

The use of AI videos raises critical unknowns:

• Who creates the AI-generated content not randomly encountered by Trump?

• Which tools are preferred: xAI’s Grok Imagine, OpenAI’s Sora, or other platforms?

These gaps mirror broader concerns about deepfakes, which experts have long warned could destabilize elections, trigger market crashes, or escalate geopolitical tensions. However, the current iteration of Trump’s AI use appears less “sci-fi Machiavellian” and more comically inane, with little coherent strategic direction beyond trolling or mockery.

A parallel concern: Trump’s historical tendency to misinterpret visual cues, such as conflating 2020 Portland protest footage (B-roll) with real-world conditions, now risks blurring the line between truth and fiction via AI. This dynamic, combined with the lack of editorial rigor, underscores a dangerous precedent: the president is wielding tools that can fabricate reality in service of political messaging.

Conclusion

Trump’s embrace of AI-generated content represents a new chapter in political communication—one defined by experimentation, opacity, and a disregard for established norms of truth. While the immediate risks may seem less catastrophic than outright election subversion, the trend signals a broader erosion of trust in information integrity, particularly as AI capabilities advance. For now, the White House’s “strategy” appears to be none at all, save for the whims of a 76-year-old president navigating a digital landscape he neither fully controls nor understands.

This edition of Jake Lahut’s Inner Loop newsletter explores the intersection of technology, politics, and accountability in the age of AI. Previous newsletters can be accessed here.