Senate Republicans shared a deepfake video of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on X, making it look like Democrats were celebrating the ongoing 16-day government shutdown.
Senate Republicans Post Deepfake of Chuck Schumer
In the video, an AI-generated Schumer says, “every day gets better for us,” which is taken out of context. In the original article, Schumer was actually talking about Democrats’ healthcare strategy during the shutdown, saying they wouldn’t back down from Republican tactics.
The shutdown continues because Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on a funding bill. Democrats want to protect tax credits that make health insurance cheaper, reverse some Trump-era Medicaid cuts, and prevent cuts to government health agencies.
X Allows the Video, No Warning Added
X’s rules say manipulated media that can mislead or confuse people should be labeled or removed. But the platform hasn’t taken down the video or added a warning, even though it has an AI watermark. This isn’t the first time X has let deepfakes of politicians stay online. In 2024, Elon Musk shared a manipulated video of former Vice President Kamala Harris before the election.
Several states, including California, Minnesota, and Texas, have laws banning deepfakes meant to deceive voters or harm candidates. The post also comes weeks after former President Trump shared deepfakes of Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Truth Social. When criticized, Joanna Rodriguez, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said: “AI is here and not going anywhere. Adapt & win or pearl clutch & lose.”
