WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 13, 2026) — Hyper-realistic AI avatars parroting Donald Trump slogans like “America First” and echoing MAGA talking points on immigration are increasingly present on the American political scene, underscoring how new technologies can be used to energise and manipulate voters. “Where are all my MAGA friends at? If you voted for Trump, say it loud in the comments and you’ve got yourself a new follower from Texas,” an AI-generated woman sporting a red MAGA hat declares on TikTok.
“Trump is the future of America,” reads text overlaid on another AI-generated TikTok video depicting a teenage girl on a beach, a US flag fluttering in the background. In an Instagram clip set to the Village People’s “YMCA”, an avatar portraying a “MAGA patriot” says she “came out of the closet as a Trump supporter”. It’s not clear who is behind the AI accounts and whether they are part of a coordinated influence operation ahead of the November elections that will determine whether Republicans maintain control of Congress.
Trump began really embracing AI-generated images last year, including pushing unfounded corruption allegations against California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and a blatantly racist post, later deleted, depicting former president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as apes.
‘SHAPE PUBLIC OPINION’
US media have detected hundreds of AI-generated pro-Trump influencers in recent months – young men and women depicted in military fatigues or dressed as immigration agents – commenting on hot-button political issues including abortion and the Iran conflict. The Governance and Responsible AI Lab (GRAIL) at Purdue University has also tracked numerous such accounts across TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
“The growing wave of political AI influencers amid the 2026 elections is a glimpse into a future where hyper-targeted AI content can be used to shape public opinion,” Andrew Yoon of CivAI, a nonprofit focused on AI’s capabilities and dangers, told AFP. Such content is “increasingly difficult to detect, especially when made by sophisticated operators”, Yoon said. As AI technology becomes more and more sophisticated, online manipulation using phony influencers could “become even more personalised and difficult to control”, he added.
One AI influencer on Instagram – featuring a lifelike female soldier posing alongside Trump – amassed nearly a million followers before she was revealed to be AI and the account was suspended. Referring to the synthetic soldier, Justine Moore, an AI-focused partner at Silicon Valley investor Andreessen Horowitz, wrote on X: “I’m genuinely floored by how many dudes are following influencers that are clearly AI.”
These pro-Trump influencers slap lifelike human faces on disinformation – pairing them with realistic voices and talking points and thus creating the illusion of a legitimate political movement.
POLITICAL THEMES, FINANCIAL MOTIVES
Disinformation typically surges around elections, propelled by automated bots, trolls and phony accounts that amplify false narratives and push them into mainstream political discourse. The potential for manipulation is multiplying with AI. And few regulations exist to stop it. Researchers warn that AI deepfakes – which have already been used to target global leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky – can influence voter turnout and distort geopolitical events.
While promoting Trump, some AI influencers also appear focused on boosting engagement, attracting followers and promoting commercial products. The bio of one pro-Trump AI influencer on Instagram directed users to a website selling MAGA-themed artwork priced at up to $500. “Many of them are driven by commercialisation goals, using politics as a means rather than an end,” Daniel Schiff, an assistant professor at Purdue University and co-director of GRAIL, told AFP.
As election season approaches, Schiff said he expects a rise in AI-generated messaging. Despite the political themes, he says “financial profit” will likely be the primary goal behind generating digital influencers.
With information from Agence France-Presse (AFP)
