Imagine a political landscape where AI-generated content becomes the new battleground for partisan warfare. That’s exactly what’s happening right now, and it’s both fascinating and deeply unsettling. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently took this digital arms race to a new level by sharing an AI-generated video on social media platform X. In this provocative clip, former President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller are depicted in handcuffs, sitting on a step with their hands bound behind their backs. The screen boldly declares, ‘It’s cuffing season,’ before transitioning to a scene where the trio, now in the backseat of a car, raise their cuffed hands to their faces, appearing to cry. The video concludes with the men approaching a courthouse, surrounded by police, reporters, and onlookers capturing the moment on their phones. Throughout, R&B artist SZA’s song ‘Big Boys’ plays in the background, adding an unexpected layer of irony.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Newsom’s video was a direct response to a similarly provocative post by the White House, which shared a montage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests set to the same SZA track. The White House’s caption? ‘WE HEARD IT’S CUFFING SZN. Bad news for criminal illegal aliens. Great news for America.’ SZA herself was quick to condemn the use of her music, calling it ‘rage baiting artists for free promo’ and labeling the tactic ‘inhumanity + shock and aw [sic] tactics ..Evil n Boring.’ This isn’t the first time artists have pushed back against their work being co-opted for political messaging—pop star Sabrina Carpenter previously slammed the White House for using her music in a similar ICE-related video, calling it ‘evil and disgusting.’
Newsom’s use of AI in political commentary isn’t new. Last week, he shared an AI-generated image of himself receiving a fictional ‘Kohl’s Peace Prize,’ a playful jab at Trump’s receipt of the FIFA Peace Prize. Trump, who had hoped for the Nobel Peace Prize, was instead overshadowed by Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado. In October, Newsom’s team posted an AI-altered image of Marie Antoinette with Trump’s face, mocking the former president’s priorities during a government shutdown. The caption? ‘NO HEALTH CARE FOR YOU PEASANTS, BUT A BALLROOM FOR THE QUEEN!’ And this is the part most people miss: these digital barbs aren’t just about humor—they’re strategic moves in a larger political chess game.
In a recent interview, Newsom revealed he’s ‘softened’ to the idea of Trump running for a third term, despite constitutional term limits. ‘His regime is going to be measured not in decades, but in years,’ Newsom said, adding with a sigh, ‘And that’s comforting.’ Whether you see Newsom’s tactics as brilliant or reckless, one thing is clear: the line between politics and digital manipulation is blurring—fast. What do you think? Is this the future of political discourse, or have we crossed a line? Let’s debate in the comments.
