Former President Donald Trump has reignited controversy by alleging that Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is using AI to fake large rally crowds. Despite Trump’s history of boasting about his own crowd sizes, he has targeted recent images from Harris’ events, claiming they are digitally manipulated to inflate attendance figures.
Significant Turnouts at Harris’ Campaign Events
Kamala Harris’ campaign recently hosted rallies in critical swing states, attracting large audiences. According to campaign data, around 12,000 people attended events in Philadelphia and Eau Claire. In Romulus and Glendale, the turnout was even higher, estimated at 15,000. These figures have been verified by multiple news sources and firsthand accounts, reinforcing the authenticity of the reported crowd sizes.
Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to challenge the legitimacy of Harris’ rally images. He specifically criticized a photo showing a large crowd welcoming Harris as she exited Air Force Two in Michigan. Trump baselessly claimed that the image was altered using AI, suggesting there was no one at the scene and the crowd was fabricated.
Evidence Refutes Trump’s Allegations
The image Trump criticized has been corroborated by multiple reliable sources, including Reuters. The Harris campaign asserts that the photo is genuine and unaltered. To bolster their position, a forensic image analyst has publicly confirmed that there are no signs of digital manipulation.
The photo, first posted on August 7 by Bhavik Lathia from the Harris campaign, was widely shared on social media but quickly became the subject of misinformation. Despite the spread of false claims, the image’s authenticity has been upheld by substantial evidence.
Trump’s Claims of Election Interference
On August 11, Trump escalated his accusations, suggesting that the image’s supposed manipulation amounted to election interference. He declared that Harris should be disqualified, framing the situation as a form of electoral misconduct. This reflects Trump’s ongoing pattern of questioning the integrity of the electoral process, echoing his previous false claims about the 2020 presidential election being “stolen.”
In response, the Harris campaign posted a video on Truth Social showing Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, being welcomed by a cheering crowd. They captioned it with a reminder to Trump: “In case you forgot @realdonaldtrump: This is what a rally in a swing state looks like.”
Media coverage from the event supports the Harris campaign’s claim, with photos and videos from outlets like Reuters and Fox News clearly showing large crowds at the rally. Aerial shots and livestreams further confirm that the seating area was full.
Expert Analysis Disproves AI Manipulation
Hany Farid, a digital forensics expert at the University of California, Berkeley, addressed the AI claims in a LinkedIn post. He stated that two AI-detecting models found “no evidence of AI-generation” in the image. While a lack of evidence of manipulation does not prove the image’s authenticity beyond doubt, Farid’s analysis supports the photo’s legitimacy.
Trump’s accusations reflect a broader pattern of spreading misinformation. His attempt to compare Harris’ crowd sizes to his debunked claims about the 2020 election highlights his ongoing efforts to undermine political opponents and the electoral process.
Trump’s Focus on Crowd Sizes
Trump’s obsession with crowd sizes is well-known. During a recent rally in Montana, Trump became frustrated when asked about Harris’ event turnout, dismissing the question and making dubious claims about the size of his own crowds compared to historic events. “I’ve spoken to the biggest crowds. Nobody’s spoken to crowds bigger than me,” he asserted.
In contrast, Tim Walz humorously addressed Trump’s fixation on crowd sizes during a rally in Arizona, where Harris’ campaign reported over 15,000 attendees. Walz quipped, “It’s not as if anybody cares about crowd sizes or anything,” highlighting the irrelevance of Trump’s focus.
Trump Aides Remain Silent
Trump’s aides have yet to comment on his false claims about Harris’ rally sizes. Despite the lack of evidence supporting his allegations, Trump continues to push his narrative, which resonates with his supporters but is widely discredited by the media and public.
