Donald Trump says Taylor Swift AI images endorsing him ‘made up by somebody else’
Donald Trump has distanced himself from AI-generated images he shared on social media that seemingly showed support from Taylor Swift and her legion of Swifties.
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Donald Trump says he doesn’t know “anything about” seemingly AI-generated photos of Taylor Swift and her fans that were used to promote support for Trump in November’s US presidential election.
The Republican presidential nominee was asked on Fox Business whether he worried Swift could sue over a photoshopped image he reposted that showed an Uncle Sam-inspired depiction of her with the words “Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.”
“I don’t know anything about them other than somebody else generated them,” Mr Trump said.
“I didn’t generate them.”
He also said the images were “all made up by other people,” adding, “AI is always very dangerous in that way”.
“It’s happening with me too. They’re having me speak. I speak perfectly, absolutely perfectly on AI, and I’m like endorsing other products and things. It’s a little bit dangerous out there,” he added.
Although she has not commented on the 2024 race, and rumours she’d appear at this week’s Democratic National Convention appear unfounded, Swift endorsed US President Joe Biden in 2020.
“Gonna be watching and supporting @KamalaHarris by yelling at the TV a lot,” she posted on X the night of the vice presidential debate in 2020.
Mr Trump seems tto be fixated on the pop superstar. In January, Rolling Stone reported that Trump allies had declared a “holy war” against the pop star, and that Mr Trump was privately saying he was “more popular” than her.
In June, Mr Trump reportedly spent a good chunk of time in a meeting in Washington DC complaining about the singer. “Why would she endorse this dope,” Mr Trump said, referring to Mr Biden, according to CNN. “He doesn’t know how to get off a stage.”
Mr Trump has also said of Swift: “I think she’s beautiful — very beautiful! I find her very beautiful. I think she’s liberal. She probably doesn’t like Trump. I hear she’s very talented,” he said. “I think she’s very beautiful, actually — unusually beautiful!”
In 2020, Swift posted X directed at Trump: “After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence?”
Prior to the 2020 US election, Swift had kept her political affiliations private.
SWIFT HITS BACK AT TRUMP CLAIMS
Earlier, Swift hit back at claims she endorsed Trump for the 2024 US election after he shared AI-generated images claiming the singer supports him.
Former US president Donald Trump posted the fake social media image of Swift asking people to vote for him in the November election.
In a Truth Social post containing AI-generated images of the singer dressed up as Uncle Sam — an iconic image used during World War I era to encourage enlistment — Mr Trump said he “accepts” the endorsement of “Swifties for Trump”.
“If she didn’t support him last time, she’s not going to support him now,” an insider told the Daily Mail.
“He’s clearly lost it. In more ways than one.”
Mr Trump also posted photos of young women wearing “Swifties for Trump” shirts, and a satirical article with the headline “Swifties Turning to Trump After ISIS Foiled Taylor Swift Concert.” The article was marked “satire” above the headline.
Watch the video above.
While the group “Swifty’s for Trump” is real, started by Wisconsin’s Jenna Piwowarczyk, the series of images of the singer and some of her fans were clear deep fakes.
Swift’s supporters are already calling for Mr Trump to be sued over the AI use of the singer’s likeness. She’s particularly sensitive to the issue after deep fake porn images circulated earlier this year.
Advocates in the music industry have been pushing for federal legislation and other measures to fight the explosion of fake AI images online.
Consumer group Public Citizen said Mr Trump’s post was “yet another example of AI’s power to create misinformation.”
“The potential harms to our society that could result from such misinformation, including abuses of our elections, are wide-reaching and immensely damaging,” the group said.
Swift cancelled three shows in Vienna this month after authorities said they had foiled a planned terrorist attack. Local officials arrested a 19-year-old man who they said was inspired by Islamic State.
It comes as the Democratic National Convention kicked off on Tuesday AEST with a surprise on stage appearance by Mr Trump’s rival Kamala Harris and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The Vice President wrapped up her brief speech by reprising her campaign catchphrase: “When we fight, we win.”
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