Senate Republicans shared a deepfake video of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that makes it appear as though Democrats are celebrating the 16-day government shutdown.
The deepfake shows an AI-generated Schumer repeating the phrase “Every day gets better for us,” which are actual words taken out of context from a Punchbowl News article. In the original article, Schumer discussed Democrats' health care-focused shutdown strategy and said he would not back down from Republicans' strategy of intimidation and “deception.”
The government shutdown is happening because Democrats and Republicans cannot agree to pass a bill that would fund the government beyond October. Democrats are trying to hold on to tax credits that make health insurance cheaper for millions of Americans, secure a reversal of President Trump's Medicaid cuts and block cuts to government health agencies.
The video was posted to the Senate Republican X account on Friday. According to X's policy, the platform prohibits “deceptive sharing of synthetic or manipulated media that may cause harm.” Harmful content includes media that can “mislead people” or “cause serious confusion regarding public issues.”
Enforcement actions include content removal, warning labeling, and reduced visibility. As of this writing, X has not removed the deepfakes or added any warning labels, but the videos do include a watermark indicating the AI's origin.
Schumer's video is not the first time X has allowed deepfakes of politicians to remain on its platform. In late 2024, X owner Elon Musk shared a manipulated video of former Vice President Kamala Harris in the run-up to the election, sparking controversy over whether it would mislead voters.
TechCrunch has reached out to X for comment.
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Up to 28 states have enacted laws banning deepfakes of political figures, especially in relation to campaigns and elections, but most states do not ban them outright when there is clear disclosure. California, Minnesota, and Texas have banned deepfakes intended to influence elections, deceive voters, or harm candidates.
The latest post comes weeks after President Donald Trump posted a deepfake on Truth Social depicting Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries making false statements about immigration and voter fraud.
In response to criticism of the lack of integrity and ethics, National Republican Senatorial Committee Communications Director Joanna Rodriguez said, “AI is here, but it's not going anywhere. Adapt and win or clutch your pearls and lose.”