Former President Donald Trump deleted a doctored AI-generated post depicting Barack and Michelle Obama after the content sparked widespread backlash.
The incident highlights the growing intersection of generative artificial intelligence and political disinformation, specifically regarding the use of racist tropes in digital media.
Trump shared the content on his social-media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday. The post remained online until Friday, when it was removed following an outcry from public officials and media figures. Reports on the specific nature of the media vary; some sources described the post as a video depicting the Obamas as primates in a jungle, while others reported it was a doctored photo showing the couple alongside an Air Force One aircraft covered in graffiti.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) condemned the content. "Most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House," Scott said.
MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow also reacted to the post, calling out the former president for the nature of the shared media. The content was widely denounced as racist for its depiction of the former president and first lady.
Because the post utilized AI-generated imagery to create the scene, it has drawn scrutiny toward the lack of moderation on Truth Social. The platform's role in hosting the content for several days before its deletion has become a focal point for critics of the former president's digital strategy.
“"Most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House."”
This event underscores the volatility of AI-generated content in political spheres, where the ability to create highly realistic but fabricated imagery can be weaponized to revive historical racial tropes. The rapid deletion following high-level Republican criticism suggests that while the platform provides a space for such content, there remains a political threshold for what is considered acceptable discourse among the broader electorate.
