The digital persona of Donald Trump has once again blurred the lines between fact and fiction, this time with an AI-generated video that presents him as a doctor curing his celebrity critics of 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'. The video, shared on his social media platform, features hyper-realistic depictions of figures such as Rosie O'Donnell, Whoopi Goldberg, Edward Norton, and Julia Roberts, all of whom have publicly voiced opposition to the former president.
The 30-second testimonial-style video shows these AI-generated celebrities expressing regret for their previous antipathy towards Trump. A deepfake version of actor Robert De Niro is seen stating, 'I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, constantly angry. I made everyone miserable around me.' The AI 'Dr Trump' – clad in a white coat and stethoscope – initially expresses doubt about his ability to help those afflicted with the fabricated condition, before promoting a 'treatment plan' that involves turning off 'fake news', prayer, and consuming a Diet Coke.
The real Rosie O'Donnell responded to the post by reiterating her unchanged assessment of Trump. In a statement, she offered her own diagnosis, suggesting that Trump is 'quite ill and getting worse daily', referencing the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution, which deals with presidential disability and removal. This sentiment underscores the ongoing political and personal friction between Trump and his high-profile critics.
This latest use of AI-generated content is part of a pattern for Donald Trump, who has frequently utilised such technology to idealise his own image or target his opponents. Previous instances include sharing an image depicting himself as Jesus healing the sick – which was later deleted after a backlash from Christian commentators – and another portraying him as the Pope. Last year, he posted a fabricated Time magazine cover depicting him as a king. Earlier this year, he also shared a racist video portraying Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, which he subsequently deleted without apology.
The White House has largely treated these posts as part of Trump's distinctive political messaging style. In response to the latest video, Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson, affirmed that posting such content was Trump’s 'right', adding that 'Trump Derangement Syndrome is a crippling disease that has unfortunately rotted the brains of many people.' Officials did not confirm whether any of the depicted actors were contacted regarding the use of their likenesses.