Politics Unpacked The AI President
Apr 14, 2026
Charlotte Ivers, Times journalist and cultural commentator, and James Marriott, Times columnist on culture and politics, debate Trump's AI image controversy and his 'doctor' claim. They unpack social media’s low-quality information ecosystem, X/Twitter’s decline, AI-generated content’s impact, the rising value of workplace temperament, and how tech changes childhood imagination and media quality.
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Trump's AI Image Shows Reality Reorganized Around Ego
- Donald Trump posted an AI image clearly resembling Jesus but defended it as a doctor, showing how his perception reshapes reality for supporters.
- James Marriott and Charlotte Ivers note the image's religious symbolism (glowing hands, robes, wings) yet Trump's base tolerates reinterpretation.
Big Accounts Amplify Low Quality Content On X
- Social platforms like X have become dominated by low-quality content and AI-generated dross, amplifying sensationalism over verified reporting.
- Nate Silver's visualisation and examples (Cat Turd 2 more popular than the New York Times) underline how prominence no longer equals credibility.
Link Suppression Turns Platforms Into Shock Feeds
- Platforms deprioritizing external links (to keep users on-site) turn feeds into attention-maximising shock content rather than curated news sources.
- Charlotte links X's change to lower engagement with reputable outlets like the EFF and more AI-driven replies.