DeSantis camp uses AI-generated images of Trump embracing, kissing Fauci
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2024 campaign is being slammed by opponents and supporters of former President Donald Trump for a recent video posted to Twitter that includes artificial intelligence-generated images of Trump with Dr. Anthony Fauci.
The artificial photos depict Trump kissing and embracing Fauci.
The video was targeting and criticizing Trump for not firing Fauci during his time as president – rather, including Fauci in the task force against COVID-19 and placing him in front of the press as a figurehead for the federal response to the pandemic.
“Donald Trump became a household name by FIRING countless people *on television,*” the DeSantis War Room tweeted. “But when it came to Fauci…”
Artificial intelligence, or AI, has only recently become so accurate that images can look like real photos at a user’s request.
“What a phony,” Jason Miller, a member of the Trump campaign, said of the images.
A source with knowledge of DeSantis’ political operation slammed members of Trump’s team for being upset about the video.
“I’d ask them why they have been continuously posting fake images and false talking points to smear the governor,” the source said.
One “talking point” that drew outrage from DeSantis supporters earlier this year, before DeSantis announced his presidential campaign, was when Trump spread an anonymously-obtained image purporting to be the Florida governor as a “groomer” with underage girls.
“DeSantis War Room is running AI Images of Trump embracing Fauci,” political commentator Tim Pool reacted. “This crosses the line.”
“I was 55/45 for Trump/DeSantis […] Now Im 0% for DeSantis,” he said.
In response to criticism, DeSantis campaign spokeswoman Christina Pushaw mockingly resurfaced an image Trump posted on TRUTH Social of DeSantis riding a rhino, symbolic of the term “RINO,” which means “Republican In Name Only.”
“I think this might be an AI-generated image. Who knows?” Pushaw said.
There was another instance in which a deepfake video of former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is seen endorsing DeSantis for president on MSNBC.
Pro-Trump consultant Alex Bruesewitz replied to Pushaw, arguing there is a difference between a “meme” and “deep fake images in an attack to falsely smear Trump.”
Trump supporters have also spread a doctored photo that depicted left-wing billionaire donor George Soros at a DeSantis event shortly after his 2024 campaign launch.
Conservative commentator Will Chamberlain weighed in, saying claims that DeSantis’ team “smeared” Trump are “ridiculous” and that no actual false claim was present in the original video.
“There’s not a false claim or smear in the video, Trump didn’t fire Fauci and gave him a Presidential commendation upon leaving office […] ‘But he didn’t really hug Fauci!’ Not the argument,” Chamberlain said.
U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, also slammed the DeSantis campaign for the images, saying spreading the fake AI images is “completely unacceptable.”
“I’m not sharing them, but we’re in a new era. Be even more skeptical of what you see on the internet,” he said.
“Gimme a break,” conservative commentator Ann Coulter reacted to outrage over the AI images. “Trump’s been doing this to DeSantis for weeks. At least DeSantis’s AI images are obvious fakes, intended to amuse, not to deceive.”
