Get ready for a heated political showdown! California Governor Gavin Newsom is taking on the White House with a bold AI-generated video, sparking controversy and raising questions about the use of art in political messaging.
Newsom's latest move is a direct response to a video shared by the White House, which featured a montage of ICE arrests set to SZA's song "Big Boys." The White House's post declared, "WE HEARD IT'S CUFFING SZN. Bad news for criminal illegal aliens. Great news for America."
But here's where it gets controversial: Newsom's video takes a different approach, depicting President Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller in handcuffs, sitting outside with their hands behind their backs. The text "It's cuffing season" appears, and the video transitions to show the men crying in the backseat of a car.
As the video ends, the men approach a courthouse, where police, reporters, and spectators await, phones raised to capture the moment. Throughout the video, SZA's song continues to play, adding an ironic twist to the scene.
SZA herself has slammed the White House's use of her song, calling it "PEAK DARK..inhumanity +shock and aw tactics..Evil n Boring." This follows pop musician Sabrina Carpenter's criticism of the White House's previous video, describing it as "evil and disgusting."
Newsom has a history of using AI to criticize Trump on social media. Last week, he shared an AI-generated image of himself receiving the "inaugural Kohl's Peace Prize," a subtle dig at Trump's failed attempt to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Newsom's campaign office has also used AI to create an image of Trump as Marie Antoinette, responding to the government shutdown and the controversial demolition of the East Wing of the White House.
And this is the part most people miss: Newsom's recent comments about Trump's potential third term. Despite constitutional term limits, Newsom has "softened" to the idea, stating, "His regime is going to be measured not in decades, but in years."
So, what do you think? Is Newsom's use of AI-generated content a powerful tool for political critique, or does it cross a line? Should artists have more control over how their work is used in political messaging? Let's discuss in the comments and explore the ethical boundaries of this digital age!
