Former US President Donald Trump posted on his social network True a fake photo of pop star Taylor Swift urging people to vote for him in the November election. He also posted several more photos of the singer's female fans, which experts believe were produced by artificial intelligence.
The picture shows the singer, dressed in the colors of the American flag, with the caption "Taylor Swift wants you to vote for Donald Trump."
"I accept!" wrote Trump.
Swift has not publicly endorsed any candidate in 2024, but has supported Democrats in the past.
In 2020, the singer supported the candidacy of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. She also criticized Trump in a 2020 documentary.
Spokespeople for Swift and Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the post.
Trump also posted photos of young women wearing "Swift Fans for Trump" T-shirts and a satirical article titled "Swift Fans Turn on Trump After ISIS Prevents Taylor Swift Concert." Above the title of the text in capital letters is written - satire.
Taylor Swift canceled three concerts in Vienna this month after authorities said they had foiled a planned attack. Local officials arrested a 19-year-old man who was said to have been inspired by Islamic State.
Several Swift fans, as well as activist groups, say many of the photos Trump has posted appear to be "dipfakes," fake images produced by artificial intelligence software.
Lawyers working in the music industry, Hollywood and Washington are pushing for federal legislation and other measures to combat the explosion of fake AI images online.
Trump's announcement is "another example of the power of artificial intelligence to create misinformation," said consumer advocacy group Public Citizen.
"The potential harm to our society that can result from such misinformation, including election abuse, is far-reaching and very dangerous," the group added.
At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Taylor Swift fan Rebecca Goff handed out friendship bracelets, a common practice among the singer's fans, at a breakfast hosted by the Nevada Democratic Party.
Goff, 39, says she thinks Trump is the antithesis of everything Swift stands for.
"Her advocacy for women and girls is the antithesis of what Trump and the Republican Party are trying to do, especially to women. They want to diminish us, they want us to return to the roles of housewives and mothers," said Gof.
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