When You Enlarge This ‘Photo,’ Trump Posted,

You’ll Discover an Odd Observation

AI and the Image That Went Viral

Over the weekend, Donald Trump, the former president and current candidate for the 2024 election, posted a series of controversial statements on social media. These included racially charged and xenophobic remarks about immigration, shared using the campaign’s official “VOTE TRUMP 2024” branding.

One image, in particular, stood out, but not for the reasons intended. It showed a deteriorating hospital with the word “EMERGENCY” scribbled in skewed red letters. A long line of people waited outside, and the image was overlaid with glaring text that read: “KAMALA HARRIS PLEDGED FREE HEALTHCARE FOR ILLEGALS. THEY’RE COMING TO COLLECT.”

The implication was clear: undocumented immigrants were allegedly rushing in to exploit the American healthcare system. But a closer look at the image reveals something strange.

Signs of Artificial Intelligence Manipulation

According to the social media account “Insane Facebook AI Slop,” this meme was almost certainly generated using AI. That fact, however, was not disclosed to the viewers.

For instance, examine the “EMERGENCY” sign. The lettering is fuzzy, uneven, and malformed, unlike any real-world emergency room signage. The letters look hand-drawn with a red marker.

The hospital windows are warped. The building’s lines don’t align properly. In the background, the structures seem oddly melted and misshapen.

Cars in the image are another giveaway. Many look partially melted or unrealistically distorted. One vehicle resembles an ambulance, but the text on its roof is unreadable.

Road signs near the facility seem hastily scrawled. What should be directional arrows or medical crosses appear as crude, broken Xs.

Finally, the people themselves are barely human. They look like ghostly figures, blurred and poorly rendered blobs.

Why Use AI for a Fake Image?

Using AI to generate such an image is puzzling. There are countless stock images of hospitals’ real emergency rooms with real lines of people.

So, why fabricate one?

Perhaps the Trump campaign couldn’t find a photo dramatic enough to sell the fear they wanted. AI allowed them to create a hyperbolic image that no real-world hospital could match.

Ironically, this suggests that the crisis they’re presenting doesn’t exist; otherwise, real evidence would suffice. Instead, they had to manufacture it.

Trump and the Growing Use of AI in Political Media

Notably, this image comes from the same political figure who previously called for disqualifying anyone who used AI for election interference. Yet, Trump’s campaign has increasingly embraced AI-generated visuals, often without acknowledgment.

Maybe they don’t care to inform voters. That’s troubling, especially considering that a survey from the Artificial Intelligence Policy Institute last year revealed most Americans support transparency in political use of AI.

The Risks of Fabricated Political Realities

Creating AI-driven, politically biased imagery to sway public opinion is a dangerous path. It fuels misinformation and distorts public understanding, especially in today’s digital age.

In this case, Trump’s team has fully embraced that slippery slope. As AI becomes more accessible, responsible usage becomes more important, especially in politics.