Newsom Fights Back Against Trump's Deepfake With Policy Jab
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has entered the 'deepfake wars', responding to former President Donald Trump's AI-manipulated video with a jab of his own. Newsom criticized Trump's trade policies, warning of their impact on both farmers and movie viewers. The exchange has sparked a shift in political discourse around deepfakes.
Newsom's press office shared an AI-generated video of a younger JD Vance, the author of 'Hillbilly Elegy', discussing couches. This was a response to Trump's AI deepfake of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, which gained over 2.5 million views. The video of Vance was a reference to a debunked rumor from his memoir, fact-checked by The Associated Press.
Newsom criticized Trump's tariffs, stating they are 'devastating farmers' and will soon affect movie viewers. He warned that Trump's 100% tariff on foreign movies will make them more expensive for viewers. Newsom's response is seen as a departure from Michelle Obama's advice of 'when they go low, we go high'.
Gavin Newsom's AI video response to Trump's deepfake has sparked a new chapter in political discourse. While Trump's deepfake gained significant attention, Newsom's response has shifted the conversation towards the real-world impacts of Trump's policies. The use of AI in political communication continues to evolve, with both sides employing these tools to make their points.
