Trump Organization attorney Michael Cohen has issued a stark warning about the AI-generated videos shared by President Donald Trump on social media. While Trump has downplayed the content, suggesting they are simply jokes, Cohen argues they are part of a much darker strategy aimed at destabilizing the American public.
In a recent Substack essay, Cohen described the AI videos as “Molotov cocktails” designed to further fracture an already divided nation. He cautioned that Trump’s use of artificial intelligence to create fabricated content is not harmless but rather part of a deliberate effort to confuse and distract the public.
“These aren’t jokes. They’re digital Molotov cocktails, lobbed straight into an already fractured public square,” Cohen wrote. “And let’s not pretend this is just ‘silly meme culture.’ Trump knows the polls are brutal. His approval numbers are cratering as the shutdown drags on and inflation eats away at working families.”
Cohen further explained that Trump’s approach seems to be focused on creating chaos in an attempt to shift the narrative. “So what’s the solution? Distract, distort, and drown the truth in so much fake content that people can’t distinguish fantasy from reality,” he continued. “If he can’t make America great again, he’ll at least make it confused enough not to notice how bad things are.”
The former lawyer expressed deep concern over the potential consequences of these tactics, which he believes go beyond trivial internet pranks. “But when the president of the United States shares fabricated videos of political rivals confessing to crimes, or doctored images of government policy proposals that don’t exist, that isn’t fun.
That’s weaponized disinformation,” Cohen argued. He warned that these actions contribute to the erosion of truth as a shared foundation in American life. Cohen’s criticisms highlight a broader concern that Trump’s reliance on misleading AI-generated content is part of a calculated strategy to weaken trust in facts and reality.
“We’re not just watching Trump clown around with AI. We’re watching the erosion of truth as a shared foundation of American life,” Cohen added, emphasizing that the same individual who coined the phrase “fake news” now embraces it to support his own agenda.
As polls show Trump’s popularity waning, particularly amid ongoing economic challenges and political disarray, Cohen suggests that these digital distractions may be an intentional effort to divert public attention and keep his base engaged. However, his concerns about the impact of such tactics on democracy remain a significant point of debate.