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Senate Republicans deepfaked Chuck Schumer, and X hasn’t taken it down

Senate Republicans deepfaked Chuck Schumer, and X hasn’t taken it down

Bitget-RWA2025/10/18 03:16
By:Bitget-RWA

Senate Republicans distributed a deepfake video featuring Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, crafted to give the impression that Democrats are rejoicing over the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 16th day. 

In this AI-created video, Schumer is shown repeating the phrase “every day gets better for us,” a real quote that was removed from its original context in a Punchbowl News article. In the actual report, Schumer was talking about the Democrats’ approach to the shutdown, which focused on healthcare, and mentioned they would not shy away from the Republican tactics of threats and “bambooz[ling].” 

The government shutdown persists because Democrats and Republicans have failed to reach an agreement on a funding bill that would keep the government running past October. Democrats are pushing to preserve tax credits that lower health insurance costs for millions, reverse Trump-era Medicaid reductions, and prevent budget cuts to federal health agencies.

The video appeared Friday on the Senate Republicans’ X account. X’s guidelines state that the platform bans “deceptively shar[ing] synthetic or manipulated media that are likely to cause harm.” Harmful material includes content that may “mislead people” or “cause significant confusion on public issues.” 

Possible enforcement steps include taking down posts, adding warning labels, or limiting their reach. As of this writing, X has neither removed the deepfake nor attached a warning label—though the video does display a watermark indicating it was generated by AI. 

This Schumer video is not the first instance of X allowing deepfake videos of politicians to remain online. In late 2024, X’s owner Elon Musk posted a doctored video of former vice president Kamala Harris ahead of the election, igniting controversy over misleading the public. 

TechCrunch has contacted X for a statement.

As many as 28 states have passed laws restricting the use of deepfakes involving political figures, especially in the context of campaigns and elections, though most allow them if there is a clear disclaimer. California, Minnesota, and Texas have specifically outlawed deepfakes meant to sway elections, mislead voters, or damage candidates.

This latest post comes just weeks after President Donald Trump shared deepfakes on Truth Social that depicted Schumer and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries making false claims about immigration and voter fraud. 

In response to concerns about transparency and ethics, Joanna Rodriguez, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, stated: “AI is here and not going anywhere. Adapt & win or pearl clutch & lose.” 

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Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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