Following Donald Trump’s final ruling in his civil fraud trial in New York, a new ad launched on Friday reimagined the former president’s father reacting to the ruling with the use of artificial intelligence.
In September 2022, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit accusing Trump, his two adult sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, The Trump Organization, and two firm executives of fraudulently overvaluing assets to secure more favorable bank loans and taxation deals.
On Friday, Judge Engoron ruled that Trump would be fined roughly $355 million and be barred from doing business in New York for three years after a monthslong civil trial. The trial aimed to decide the damages Trump would face after Engoron found that he committed fraud by inflating the value of his assets. The other defendants in the case also faced financial penalties and business restrictions in New York.
Despite the ruling, Trump, the current GOP frontrunner in the 2024 presidential election, has maintained his innocence and claimed the case was politically motivated. His lawyer Christopher Kise stated that Trump would appeal the judge’s ruling, expressing confidence that the appellate division would correct what they perceive as errors made by the trial court.
In response to the ruling, The Lincoln Project, a political action committee (PAC) of current and former Republicans who oppose Trump, shared a new ad featuring an AI-generated version of the former president’s father, Fred Trump. The ad aimed to depict how Fred Trump might react to his son’s legal troubles.
“Donny, I always knew you’d blow it. You were always a fool. A joke. Low rent,” the digital recreation of Fred Trump said in the ad.
Fred Trump, who founded the Trump Organization back in the 1920s in New York City, passed away in 1999. The ad suggests that Fred Trump would express disappointment in his son’s actions, particularly regarding the potential downfall of the business empire he built.
According to The Lincoln Project, the ad underscores Trump’s long-standing history of alleged fraudulent activities. Rick Wilson, co-founder of The Lincoln Project, emphasized that Trump’s behavior, not AI manipulation, tarnishes his image.
The ad further criticizes Trump’s business efforts, with the reimagined Fred Trump lamenting, “The brand I built is crap because of you. You’re trash. You’ll be lucky to stay out of jail.”
When asked for comment, Trump’s spokesperson declined to address the ad directly and instead criticized The Lincoln Project, referencing previous sexual harassment allegations against co-founder John Weaver.
Meanwhile, allegations against Weaver emerged in a 2021 New York Times report, detailing numerous accusations of sexual harassment against the Republican strategist. Weaver acknowledged the allegations, expressing remorse for any discomfort caused.
Despite Weaver’s association with The Lincoln Project, the organization has distanced itself from him, condemning his actions and expressing solidarity with his victims.
This ad is not the first to use Fred Trump’s image to criticize Donald Trump’s business practices. In 2021, MeidasTouch Super PAC released an ad featuring Fred Trump, highlighting the perceived failures of Trump’s business ventures.
In conclusion, the ad featuring an AI-generated Fred Trump offers a satirical take on Trump’s legal troubles and business legacy. It reflects broader criticisms of Trump’s conduct and the efforts of political groups to undermine his credibility.
