A recent image released on social media by the White House has gone viral. The image depicts Donald Trump in a Superman costume with a large red cape and the big words "hope, truth, and justice". The clearly manipulated image was posted online and went viral as it was shared widely on social media platforms that sparked intense criticism and celebration from both sides of the aisle.
The White House post was unusual in tone and style and many individuals online questioned if it was part of a satirical campaign. The post looked to be a manipulated image or created using AI. A number of people found it very creative, supportive, and fun, but there were many who saw the post as inappropriate and tone-deaf.
The pushback was swift. Users who came across the post and image on social media ridiculed it for being "cringe" and "embarrassing." Many users noted that having trump connected to things like truth and justice, and that we are still asking for the release of the investigation files into the Jeffrey Epstein files, is an interesting association to make. Some people accused the White House and the Federal Government of outsourcing that duty to make a political message and promote a cult of personality by using superhero iconography for a political figure.
Some of the comments found online were in disbelief that the post was real, asserting that a teenager with online access to meme creators or tools from AI could have produced it, not the official white house account. Other critics wondered whether or not it was right for the official White House account on its social media platform to share that kind of image, or politically, stylized image.
After Cain, who was Superman in the 1990s TV series “Lois & Clark,” weighed in, the image received even more attention. Cain is also a known supporter of Trump and used laughing emojis to respond to the post, and then bashed the new Superman “woke” era. This also ignited the ongoing discussion and drew more attention to the post.
Some wondered if the timing of the post made a statement, given that the post came out just as DC Studios is promoting a brand new Superman movie produced by James Gunn. While there is no evidence that there is a correlation between the film and the White House post, the horrific coincidence led some to feel that people jumped on an opportunity to spark conversations and engagement regarding the superhero.
Critics also noted the irony in the juxtaposition of Trump and Superman could seem inverse. As an alien refugee figuratively wired to protect the universe and being an embodiment of inclusion and justice in the DC universe, Superman does not seem to fit squarely with the apparent anti-legal immigration caused by the former President, leading inexorably to a questioning of the perception of the image and whether the creators understood the image’s use as a symbol.
This incident is another example of how generative AI and digital products are being used in political messaging. AI is wonderful at packing content into really engaging messaging across the forms. But it can also raise questions about truth, appropriateness, and navigating the questions of what could be viewed as a serious message compared to more light-hearted spectacle of being online.
Image Source: The Telegraph
