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Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also the Democratic presidential nominee, drew an impressive crowd of supporters at a recent campaign rally in Romulus, Michigan. However, her opponent, former President Donald Trump, sparked controversy by claiming that the images depicting large crowds had been artificially enhanced using AI technology.
In a Sunday post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Harris had manipulated images to create the illusion of a larger audience, saying, “Kamala CHEATED at the airport? No real crowd, just an AI-generated assembly of so-called supporters!” He specifically referenced a photo showing Harris being greeted by a large crowd as she stepped off Air Force Two in Michigan on August 7.
The accusations echo a narrative pushed by several MAGA-friendly commentators known for spreading misinformation online, suggesting a concerted effort to undermine Harris’s apparent surge in popularity.
In response, Harris’ campaign asserted the authenticity of the images, noting that they depicted a genuine gathering of 15,000 attendees at a joint rally with her vice presidential running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota. This was corroborated by a licensed photo from Getty Images, which validated the crowd size as depicted in the circulating photos.
Harris’s team also took the opportunity to draw comparisons between her active campaigning and the relatively subdued activities of Trump’s campaign, noting Trump’s absence from key swing states and questioning the vigor of his campaign.
During these exchanges, Trump also criticized Harris for political impersonation, accusing her of copying his initiative to abolish tip taxes, which she unveiled at her Las Vegas rally, a claim she herself had previously made at an event of her own.
This election cycle has seen AI technology become a powerful, often abused tool to spread misinformation. Trump’s propagation of these claims reflects broader concerns about the difficulty voters have in discerning truthful information in an increasingly digital campaign landscape.
As the Democratic National Convention approaches, the campaign pace remains intense: Harris recently completed a tour of seven key states, a stark contrast to Trump’s lighter campaign schedule, which includes only a handful of rallies and fundraisers this month.
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