The official White House Instagram account shared an AI-generated video showing Donald Trump throwing Stephen Colbert into a dumpster and dancing.
The post highlights the intersection of generative artificial intelligence and political communication, using digital manipulation to mock a long-time critic as his television program concludes.
The video was posted on May 22, 2024 [1]. The clip depicts the former president, who was 79 at the time of the posting [2], engaging in the act before dancing. The timing of the post coincided with news that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is coming to an end [3].
The use of the official White House social media channel to distribute AI-generated content depicting a public figure in a derogatory manner has drawn attention to the evolving nature of digital satire. The video portrays a fictional scenario intended as a humorous jab at the late-night host [3].
Josh Hammer, a senior editor-at-large for Newsweek, commented on the situation during an interview with Sky News Australia. Hammer criticized the quality and longevity of Colbert's comedic style.
"He stinks, he was not funny, his shtick was mildly acceptable back when he was on Comedy Central during the Bush administration," Hammer said [4].
While the video uses the likenesses of both Trump and Colbert, it is a synthetic creation. The content appeared across various online news outlets in the U.K. and Australia following its release on the Instagram platform [5].
“The official White House Instagram account shared an AI-generated video showing Donald Trump throwing Stephen Colbert into a dumpster.”
This incident underscores a shift in how political entities utilize AI to engage in personal grievances and public mockery. By leveraging synthetic media on an official government-affiliated platform, the administration is normalizing the use of deepfakes for political satire, potentially blurring the line between official communication and digital harassment.
