Never Back Down, a super political action committee (PAC) supporting Florida Gov.
Ron DeSantis' presidential bid, has released a video advertisement that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic former President Donald Trump criticizing Iowa's Republican governor.
The video features comments made by Trump on social media, where he criticized Gov. Kim Reynolds for not endorsing him in the GOP primaries. However, the video also praises Reynolds for signing a fetal heartbeat bill to ban abortion after six weeks gestation.
The video questions why Trump is attacking Reynolds, stating, "Governor Kim Reynolds is a conservative champion. She signed the heartbeat bill and stands up for Iowans everyday so why is Donald Trump attacking her? Trump should fight Democrats, not Republicans. What happened to Donald Trump?"
Reynolds has stated that she will remain neutral during the GOP primaries, citing Iowa's first-in-the-nation status. She has been hosting events for 2024 hopefuls in the state, with the Iowa caucus date set for January 15, 2024.
In the video, the AI impersonation of Trump says, "I opened up the governor position for Kim Reynolds, and when she fell behind, I endorsed her, did big rallies, and she won. Now, she wants to remain 'neutral.' I don't invite her to events!"
It is worth noting that Trump appointed then-Gov. Terry Branstad as U.S. Ambassador to China in 2017, which allowed Reynolds to assume the governorship. She ran for office in 2018 and 2022, winning both elections with Trump's endorsement.
In response to the video, co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita criticized the use of AI to fabricate Trump's voice, calling it a desperate attempt to deceive the American public. LaCivita stated, "After losing big donors and slashing their staff, they have now outsourced their work to AI just like they would like to outsource American jobs to China."
Trump notably did not attend The Family Leadership Summit hosted by Daily Caller News Foundation co-founder Tucker Carlson, while many other 2024 contenders, including DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, conservative businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, were in attendance.
Trump's attack on Reynolds drew criticism from The Family Leader's president and CEO Bob Vander Plaats, who tweeted, "Forest Gump says, 'stupid is as stupid does.' My Mom says don't call anyone, 'stupid.' So, I won't. However, this isn't smart. Iowa is wide open."
Several of the 2024 GOP candidates, including DeSantis, Haley, and Hutchinson, came to Reynolds' defense following Trump's remarks. DeSantis tweeted, "[Kim Reynolds] is a strong leader who knows how to ignore the chirping and get it done. She earned a landslide re-election because she delivered big results, and she is poised to deliver even more for Iowans in the special session."
According to a July 7 American Greatness poll, Trump is currently leading DeSantis in Iowa with 44% to 21%.
Never Back Down's use of AI in their video advertisement has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it is a deceptive tactic. As the 2024 GOP primaries continue to unfold, Reynolds' neutrality and Trump's attacks on fellow Republicans may shape the political landscape in Iowa and beyond.
Login