Donald Trump understands the power of an image—especially one featuring himself, whether alongside Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, or Kim Kardashian. But what about George Washington?
As the US president struggles to end his conflict with Iran and faces approval ratings at the lowest point of his second term, he has recently shared a series of AI-generated images of himself with key historical American figures.
Amid tough questions about reports of poor living conditions and low morale on the USS Abraham Lincoln after its record-breaking deployment, and his attempts to strike a deal with Tehran, Trump has repeatedly turned to his Truth Social platform to post images that seem designed to boost his legacy.
Earlier this month, he posted an AI image of himself and Washington standing side by side in what appears to be a rendering of Trump’s completed White House ballroom. A minute later, he added three more AI pictures of the two in the same room. In one, they gaze into the distance; in another, Trump holds a piece of paper and points at the ceiling.
Trump wasn’t finished. The next day, he posted an AI image of himself and Washington seated at a table, holding quills over what looks like a map. Three minutes later, he shared an image of the pair on horseback—Washington on a white horse, Trump on a black one. Neither post had a caption.
Still, Sunday’s post was the most striking: a video showing Washington and Trump walking through the ballroom, taking turns to point at the ceiling as if inspecting the construction.
“I think part of the reason he’s posting it is because it ties into this deeper feeling he has that he’s on par with, or even better than, George Washington,” said Angelo Carusone, president and CEO of Media Matters, a non-profit media watchdog.
“He’s trying to basically be a founder,” Carusone added. “And AI lets him project his imagination out into the world.”
The Guardian asked the White House whether Trump, who is 80, believed he had actually met with Washington, who died over 200 years ago. A spokesperson didn’t directly answer the question but responded: “Truth Social is the most powerful and popular social media platform in the world because it serves as President Trump’s authentic voice, where he communicates directly with the American people and the world without the biased media taking him out of context.”
“Every day in Washington DC, the city changes and gets more Trump-branded,” Carusone said. “That’s the parallel to Washington: there are all these things named after him, but that happened after his death. With Trump, it’s almost like he’s building a living mausoleum.”
Trump’s ballroom has sometimes seemed to be one of his main focuses during his second term. He has openly admitted he wants it to be a “legacy project,” and when times get tough, he seems to retreat to that topic.
There’s also evidence that Trump wants to secure a legacy that casts him not just as a skilled ballroom builder, but as a successful wartime leader.
Trump has also posted an AI image of himself in a military uniform, flanked by World War II generals George Patton and Douglas MacArthur on a battlefield. In the image, two tanks appear to be burning in the background, and Trump—who has received a generous AI upgrade—wears six rows of medals on his chest, more than Patton and MacArthur combined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the trend of Trump using social media to bypass traditional press scrutiny written in a natural and accessible tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q What does it mean when people say Trump dodges tough questions on social media
A It means he often avoids answering questions from journalists in press conferences or interviews Instead of facing those questions directly he posts his thoughts announcements or criticisms on his social media platform where he has total control over the message and doesnt have to respond to followup questions
Q Why does he prefer using social media instead of talking to the press
A He has said that social media allows him to speak directly to his supporters without a filter He believes the mainstream media is biased against him so he uses social media to bypass what he calls fake news and get his message out exactly how he wants it without interruption
Q What platform does he mainly use for this
A He primarily uses his own platform Truth Social He was banned from Twitter and Facebook after the January 6th Capitol riot and even though his accounts were reinstated he has mostly stuck with Truth Social which he coowns
Q Is this a new strategy
A No He used Twitter heavily during his 2016 campaign and presidency However the strategy has become more pronounced since he left office and faced legal battles as he uses social media to frame the narrative around his court cases and political opponents
AdvancedLevel Questions
Q How does this shadowbanning or factchecking avoidance play into his strategy
A On Truth Social there are no thirdparty factcheckers He can make claims that would be flagged or removed on other platforms This creates an echo chamber where his statements are not challenged allowing him to control the narrative and energize his base without external correction
Q What is the legal implication of him making statements about his court cases on social media
