In a recent statement, former President Donald Trump has advanced a baseless conspiracy theory accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of using artificial intelligence to manipulate images of crowd sizes at her rallies. This claim, echoing an unfounded conspiracy circulating among some MAGA Republican commentators, has been widely debunked by Harris’s campaign.
On Sunday, Trump took to Truth Social, his social media platform, to assert that Harris had deceptively altered images to exaggerate the size of crowds at her events. “Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she ‘A.I.‘d’ it, and showed a massive ‘crowd’ of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDN’T EXIST!” Trump wrote, amplifying a false narrative aimed at discrediting Harris.
The controversy centers on a photograph of a substantial crowd at a rally in Michigan on August 7, where Harris was seen being greeted by enthusiastic supporters. Trump’s comments are based on a conspiracy theory promoted by certain right-wing commentators who have a history of spreading misinformation.
The Harris campaign has firmly rebutted Trump’s allegations, stating that the image in question depicts an actual crowd of approximately 15,000 people who attended the event. They emphasized that the rally was well-attended and supported by a significant number of enthusiastic voters.
CNBC has verified the authenticity of the photo in question. A licensed Getty Images photograph confirms the size and context of the crowd, reinforcing the Harris campaign’s denial of the AI manipulation claim.
This latest attack from Trump comes as he attempts to pivot his campaign strategy following President Joe Biden’s endorsement of Harris as the presumptive Democratic nominee. Trump’s comments reflect a broader trend among some MAGA Republicans who have been engaging in increasingly aggressive tactics to undermine Harris and the Democratic ticket.
The ongoing spread of misinformation highlights the polarized nature of current political discourse, with both sides frequently resorting to contentious and misleading tactics to sway public opinion. As the election approaches, the veracity of such claims will remain a critical issue for voters and fact-checkers alike.
