A recent poll indicates that many Americans disapprove of President Trump for sharing AI-generated videos that mock protesters and Democratic leaders amid the government shutdown.
According to a YouGov survey, about 70% of respondents expressed strong or moderate disapproval of a video showing Trump in a fighter jet dropping brown sludge on demonstrators at the “No Kings” protests in New York City.
Only 20% of those surveyed said they either approved or somewhat approved of the posts on Truth Social, while 10% were uncertain about their feelings on the matter.
In general, many participants were let down by the video, with 60% labeling it unpresidential, 52% finding it offensive, and 51% echoing that sentiment.
Interestingly, 21% described the video as intriguing.
Besides this video, respondents also largely criticized two additional AI clips shared by Trump. One depicts former President Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office and the other shows a gold statue of Trump in the Gaza Strip, alongside the Trump Gaza Hotel.
This isn’t the first time Trump has stirred controversy on social media. Recently, he posted an AI-generated video featuring himself in a sombrero alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, set in the White House during the shutdown.
Schumer condemned this behavior during a Senate speech in late September, stating, “The shutdown is just hours away. We don’t want this, and neither do the American people. The president is busy trolling the internet like he was 10 years old.” He further claimed that the public would hold Trump responsible if the government were to shut down.
In contrast, some of Trump’s Republican colleagues labeled the posts as jokes, referring to the videos as “satire.”
When it comes to AI’s role in politics, the survey revealed that 85% of Americans are at least somewhat worried about the potential spread of political propaganda via AI. Meanwhile, 9% are not concerned, and 6% remain unsure.
Furthermore, an overwhelming 90% of respondents voiced concerns about AI being utilized to disseminate misleading information or deepfakes. However, only 5% said they were unconcerned, and 4% were uncertain.
YouGov surveyed 1,091 individuals from October 20 to 22, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
