At 20:07 local time on August 2, Trump posted an AI-generated oil painting-style illustration on Truth‑Social.
The image features three figures from left to right: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Donald Trump; all three are depicted holding quills, bending over a map, simulating the scene of signing historic national documents.
By positioning himself alongside America's two greatest presidents, the post drew widespread attention and extensive sharing.
Trump’s release of this AI-generated artwork—showing himself jointly signing documents with Washington and Lincoln—is a clearly targeted political promotion. Its core objective is to use AI technology to embed himself within the ranks of America’s most illustrious presidents, crafting an image of himself as a "historical-tier leader."
Washington was the Founding Father, Lincoln the unifier; by standing "shoulder to shoulder" with them, Trump implies he belongs in the pantheon of the nation’s greatest presidents. This reflects the continuation of his long-standing obsession with Mount Rushmore—when real-world achievements fall short, he uses technology to forcibly create a shared frame.
This image stands in stark contrast to mainstream assessments. In a recent expert survey conducted in 2024, Washington and Lincoln consistently ranked among the top three, while Trump scored at the bottom (10.92 points) and was labeled the most divisive president.
This move is consistent with Trump’s “AI President” style: aimed at reinforcing base loyalty and generating controversy. He isn’t trying to deceive people into believing it’s real—he uses visual impact to directly convey the message “I am great,” attracting hardcore supporters and shaping public discourse.
Thus, this artwork functions more like a political vision or campaign poster directed at his supporters—it reveals Trump’s intense desire to define his own political identity, rather than offering an objective historical account.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872473634543627/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.