The Future of US Democracy The Deepfake Presidency: How AI-Generated Media Is Changing American Politics

As artificial intelligence has become increasingly accessible, AI-generated images and videos are emerging as visible features of U.S. political communication. While public concern often centers on electoral disinformation, synthetic media also functions as a tool for political branding, persuasion, and audience mobilization. This talk analyzes how the Trump administration has employed AI-generated content and explores the implications of these practices for the 2026 midterm elections. By examining humorous, parodic, and highly shareable media forms, the presentation highlights how affective engagement increasingly outweighs traditional policy-based argumentation. The talk considers how synthetic media contributes to partisan polarization, reshapes relations between political institutions and digital culture, and challenges established understandings of democratic communication.