Washington, D.C. – In a move that has further inflamed the already intense 2024 election campaign, former President Donald Trump has made a sensational and baseless claim that Vice President Kamala Harris is using artificial intelligence (AI) to artificially inflate the size of crowds at her political rallies. Trump’s assertion, delivered during a recent rally, has drawn widespread attention and criticism, with many accusing him of once again dabbling in conspiracy theories to undermine his opponents. The claim, which has been quickly debunked by experts, underscores the ongoing polarization and the use of misinformation as a tool in modern politics.
During his rally, Trump alleged that Harris’s campaign had manipulated images and videos of her events to create the illusion of larger crowds than those actually present. “They’re using AI to create fake crowds,” Trump declared to his supporters. “It’s all a big con. They want you to think she’s more popular than she is, but it’s all smoke and mirrors.” According to CNN, this accusation is reminiscent of Trump’s earlier disputes over crowd sizes, most notably the controversy surrounding the attendance at his 2017 inauguration, which he falsely claimed was the largest ever.
Trump’s remarks quickly sparked a flurry of responses, with fact-checkers, AI experts, and political commentators rushing to dispel the unfounded claim. CNBC reported that experts in the field of digital media and artificial intelligence were quick to dismiss the idea that AI was being used to inflate crowd sizes as technologically unnecessary and easily disproven. “There’s no credible evidence to support the idea that AI is being used in this way,” said a digital forensics expert consulted by CNBC. “Even if someone were to attempt such manipulation, it would be easily detectable with the technology we have today.”
The false accusation has also been criticized by political analysts who view it as part of a broader strategy by Trump to delegitimize his opponents through misinformation. Yahoo News drew parallels between Trump’s latest claims and his past behavior, noting that he has frequently resorted to conspiracy theories to question the legitimacy of those he perceives as rivals. “This is a classic Trump tactic,” commented a political analyst in the Yahoo report. “By floating these baseless allegations, he energizes his base and shifts the focus away from substantive political discourse.”
The Telegraph further contextualized Trump’s accusations, highlighting that they come at a critical time in the 2024 election cycle, with Vice President Harris ramping up her campaign efforts across the country. As Harris gains momentum in key battleground states, Trump’s attacks have become more frequent and more personal. The Vice President, who has maintained a strong public presence, has dismissed Trump’s latest remarks as nothing more than a distraction. “Donald Trump is trying to divert attention from his own lack of a clear policy agenda,” a Harris campaign spokesperson said. “Our campaign is focused on real issues that matter to Americans, not on conspiracy theories.”
The controversy has also sparked discussions about the potential risks and misuse of AI in the political arena. While the use of AI for creating deepfakes and other forms of digital manipulation is a legitimate concern in the age of misinformation, experts have emphasized that there is no evidence to suggest that it is being used in the manner Trump describes. CNBC quoted a technology ethics professor who stressed that while AI can be a powerful tool, it is not being employed in the way Trump suggests. “AI does present challenges when it comes to misinformation, but the idea that it’s being used to fake crowd sizes at political rallies is far-fetched and lacks any basis in reality,” the professor said.
As the 2024 election campaign progresses, Trump’s latest conspiracy theory is likely to fuel further debates about the role of misinformation and technology in politics. His false claim that Harris is using AI to inflate her rally crowds has already been thoroughly debunked, but it has succeeded in drawing attention and sparking controversy, which some argue is the former president’s primary intent. As the election draws nearer, the rhetoric from both sides is expected to escalate, with truth and integrity in political discourse continuing to be major points of contention.
