If you reference a pop culture touchstone in an AI-generated clip, it’s probably best you understand even the most basic tenet of the
Another day, another AI slop rampage from Donald Trump, whose latest Truth Social posting spree has left the internet saying one thing in unison: Enough.
Trump is no stranger to bulk posting AI-generated imagery as part of what has been referred to as “memetic warfare” – a tactic which sees him and his administration flood the zone when it comes to AI-generated imagery in order to appeal to his base and beyond. But the increasing frequency and quantity of the posts (as well as the very bizarre content) is leading people to seriously wonder about the mental health of the president, the security of the modern world, and the Trump administration’s loose grasp on pop culture references.
One social media user argued: “Something is very wrong with the president. And yet, still has the codes to our nuclear arsenal and is the single person who can order their use.” Another pointed out: “The man with the nuclear codes. You’d be concerned if these were being posted by an elderly relative.”
In his latest posting spree, Trump renamed New Mexico as “New America”, shared an image of his silhouette over Iran, proposed new uniforms for the United States Space Force (which gave off Starship Troopers fascist chic), and even declared the Moon as US territory…
Yes, really. He declared the celestial body “is ours”.
It goes without saying that the Moon is in fact not owned by anyone, as stated by Article II of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. Still, the internet was quick to point out that Trump should have more pressing priorities…
“Maybe get control of the Strait of Hormuz before you start on the moon,” one social media user wrote, while another posted: “Reporter: What do you say to Americans who want affordable food, gas, healthcare, and no war? Trump: The Moon is Ours.”
“WTF? Honestly this dude is losing his mind,” another commented.
One AI-generated image has angered comic book and film fans – and not for the first time.
Trump has previously appropriated several pop culture touchstones, including Superman, Hannibal Lecter, Jedis and Spider-Man, and the references have backfired every time – not only by sparking the ire of the original creators and fans, but also for how these hijacked cultural winks display a lack of appreciation or understanding when it comes to the references themselves.
The latest is an image of Trump as a DC Universe superhero. He could be seen wearing a Green Lantern Ring and appearing to build a green border wall with the ring’s power. Then, there’s a holographic “American manufacturing” cityscape that appears, before green military aircrafts fly over his head.
You couldn’t make this up.
The clip was posted by the official White House account, which captioned the clip by reappropriating the oath spoken by heroes in the Green Lantern Corps: “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might beware my power… Green Lantern’s light!”
Beyond the fact that “America is actually being run by a 12 year old on iPad privileges,” as one person shrewdly commented on X, as well as the very serious real-world issues Americans are facing (“Day 190 of the Iran War,” someone pointed out online, while another argued: “Anything to distract from gas prices”), Trump’s White House shows once again that it has misused the cultural reference and that the ironic implications clearly escape them.
Much like the backfiring Jedi image (red lightsabers are for the baddies, Donald), the glaring irony of Trump portraying himself as Superman (technically an illegal immigrant on Planet Earth) and how Spider-Man would actually be fighting ICE, not supporting them, the Green Lantern reference misfires.
You see, the Green Lantern Corps are an intergalactic peacekeeping force that protects the entire universe without borders. Hijacking this character to symbolize an “America First” agenda and using the ring to build physical border walls is contradictory to the core principles of the fictional character.
Plus, all card-carrying nerds will rush to correct this clip, as Trump would not be a Green Lantern, which imbues hope. A more accurate colour would be Yellow, for the love of chaos, or Orange – chiefly due to his greed and hunger for power.
In addition to the thesis that the Trump administration might be culturally illiterate is the fact that using artificial intelligence to display supreme strength and dominance only highlights imaginary power. Not true might that would decry from real-world policy.
Understand your references, or they risk rebounding and making you look like cosmic embarrassments.
“In brightest day, in blackest night, no backfiring AI shall escape from my device during outrunning iPad privileges.”
Granted, it doesn’t have the same ring to it, but lessons need to be learned.
