Recently, President Trump released several AI-generated videos on his X page, which include Barack Obama being arrested and half-naked Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie sumo-wrestling. The most popular of them all, though, was Trump flying a fighter jet and dumping sewage water over a crowd protesting on No Kings Day.
Reactions on X regarding the videos are mixed, with some calling Trump humorous and praising his antics and others describing the video as tacky and immature. According to YouGov, ninety-six percent of Democrats who viewed the video disapproved of it, compared to the forty-three percent of Republicans who have seen the video. The majority of Democrats and Independents disapprove of Trump’s AI use, while Republicans are split about fifty percent (Orth).
Ella Hunter (10), who identifies as a Democrat, finds the video “immature and one-hundred percent unacceptable for any world leader to be posting.” She elaborates that Trump’s AI use is “insulting the very people he is sworn to protect while also using a tool that is actively killing our Earth.” Hunter emphasizes that though many of Trump’s followers overlook his posts, she hopes that some of his followers will rethink their vote after viewing the videos. When asked if she would disapprove of the video if a Democratic leader posted it, Hunter asserts that “for any world leader to release something like that would be rather silly.” She argues that, although she disfavors President Trump, any AI-created video would be inappropriate for any politician, regardless of their beliefs.
While Hunter offered a more critical take on Trump’s AI-generated posts, other students viewed them differently. Chloe Abuana (10), who is politically neutral, felt indifferent toward the video: “I’m just a little lost on what the point of it is because he doesn’t have to do all that.” She explained that posting the video serves little advantage for Trump if he was trying to advocate for a point. “Even though he might just be trying to be funny, I still don’t understand what this is doing for the country.” She adds that the video will likely not directly impact America, but it “[leaves] an impression on the people that see it, no matter what side they’re taking.”
Hyunjun Yim (10), a politically-neutral student with right-leaning beliefs, shared Abuana’s confusion about Trump’s motivates. He feels that although the video won’t help Trump’s cause, he still emphasizes that the “left is overreacting to it. It’s just an AI video.” He argued that though the video was crude in nature, rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s performance during former Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign was more inappropriate. He admitted, “I don’t think Trump should’ve posted [the video], but it’s not like the end of the world.” He explains that despite Trump’s immaturity in creating the videos immaturity, it “shouldn’t make someone vote for one or the other.”
Yim, Hunter, and Abuana’s opinions ultimately highlight where they draw the line when it comes to media use in politics. Individuals who comment on this issue present differing opinions, not only regarding AI usage, but concerning the motives of politicians using AI to sway public opinion. In the end, it is up to each person to decide what they believe.
