Ex-President Trump uses fake photos to solicit votes from Taylor Swift fans.

DLNews Politics:

In a plot twist that could only come from the mind of Donald Trump—yes, he's still trying to outdo himself at 78—the former president has attempted to woo one of the world's most fiercely independent pop stars, Taylor Swift (34), in a way that’s as subtle as a bull in a china shop. How, you ask? By deploying the latest in AI trickery to conjure up a poster where Swift, the queen of calling out toxic behavior, supposedly urges her fans to vote for Trump. Yes, you heard that right—the same Taylor Swift who has made it her unofficial hobby to roast Trump on a spit metaphorically.

This AI image is causing a stir. Trump shared it on his online service with just one comment of approval: "I accept."

But Trump, in his infinite wisdom, didn't stop there. No, he doubled down by producing additional images of women proudly donning "Swifties for Trump" T-shirts. Nothing says "authentic fandom" quite like a wholly fabricated allegiance. One can only imagine Trump’s inner circle nodding in approval, perhaps mistaking this bizarre fantasy for reality.

Enter Hany Farid, digital forensics expert and unofficial debunker of nonsense, who confirmed what everyone with half a brain already knew: these images were either AI-generated or manipulated. His official diagnosis? "Particularly insidious," which in plain English translates to, "You’re not fooling anyone, Don."

Naturally, the Swifties—known for their measured responses and reluctance to engage in online drama (wink)—didn’t take kindly to this digital chicanery. Within minutes, X (formerly known as Twitter and still an arena for virtual gladiators) was ablaze with responses. One user, clearly not mincing words, stated, "Bro, she doesn't like you, and she'll make sure everyone knows that." And if history has taught us anything, Swift will take up that challenge, likely with a hit single.

Meanwhile, political pundits and casual observers alike have been left shaking their heads, struggling to find the words to describe this latest move. Martin Williamson, former Sky journalist and long-time Trump commentator, probably had to suppress a chuckle as he posted, "Even by Donald Trump's grim standards, this is a new low." The low makes you wonder if there’s a secret competition among Trump’s team to see who can come up with the most outlandish idea. If so, this one’s a strong contender for first prize.

And what of Taylor herself? The megastar, who has previously thrown her weight behind causes like abortion rights and LGBTQ rights—decidedly not in Trump’s wheelhouse—has yet to comment. But given her history, it’s safe to assume she’s not precisely drafting a thank-you note. Her silence, of course, hasn’t stopped her fans from mobilizing. The "Swifties for Kamala" page, supporting Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, has gained followers faster than Trump can generate fake images.

So, what’s the takeaway from this little episode? If Trump’s goal was to woo the Swifties, he’s only managed to unify them in their disdain. Something must be said for consistency, even if it alienates potential voters. One can only imagine the brainstorming sessions that led to this—if only we could be a fly on that wall. But for now, we’ll have to settle for watching the fallout, popcorn in hand, as the Swifties do what they do best: shake it off, then fire back with a vengeance.