Following the conclusion of Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial in New York, a newly released ad on Friday employed artificial intelligence to depict how Trump’s father might have reacted to the trial’s outcome.
A High-Stakes Lawsuit
New York Attorney General Letitia James had filed a lawsuit in September 2022, alleging that Trump, along with his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, The Trump Organization, and two executives, Allen Weisselberg and Jeff McConney, engaged in fraudulent asset overvaluation.
This was purportedly done to obtain more favorable bank loans and tax deals.
A Financial Reality Check
“I have a lot of cash,” Donald Trump asserted confidently while testifying last year. Following the staggering financial penalty imposed in his New York civil fraud trial on Friday, that cash reserve might just be put to the test.
$355 Million Setback
On Friday, Judge Arthur Engoron directed the former president to pay a hefty sum of $355 million, along with interest, after finding that he misrepresented his wealth in financial statements used for securing loans and forging deals during his rise as a real estate mogul and eventual president.
Scathing Verdict
Engoron, in a detailed 92-page decision, described the fraud as glaring and conscience-shocking. The ruling, which notably avoids shutting down Trump’s company but subjects it to extended court oversight and other sanctions, highlights the severity of the fraud.
Real Estate Mogul to President
Concluding a trial that spanned over two and a half months in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit, the ruling strikes at the heart of Trump’s persona as a savvy and successful real estate developer who rose to political prominence.
Lincoln Project’s AI Ad
The Lincoln Project, a political action committee formed by Republicans who oppose Donald Trump, released an ad on Friday. This ad features an AI-generated portrayal of Trump’s father, Fred Trump, hypothesizing his reaction to the recent court ruling.
AI Fred Trump Speaks
In the ad, the digital Fred Trump is shown expressing disappointment in his son: “Donny, I always knew you’d blow it. You were always a fool. A joke. Low rent.”
Fred Trump’s Legacy
Fred Trump, who established the Trump Organization in the 1920s in New York City, passed away in 1999. Donald Trump later took over the business and eventually handed executive responsibilities to his sons, Donald Jr. and Eric.
Hypothetical Disappointment
The Lincoln Project’s ad is a pointed critique, suggesting that Fred Trump would be dismayed by how his son managed and ultimately “lost the empire his father built.”
The Fall of an Empire
“Fred may not be with us now, but in this spot we imagined just how Fred Trump would react to Donald’s record of decades of fraud catching up to him at long last. Trump frequently accuses his critics of using AI to make him look bad. We’ve always said it doesn’t take AI to make Trump look bad; Trump does that all by himself,” remarked Rick Wilson, co-founder of The Lincoln Project, in a statement.
The Brand is ‘Crap’
The ad further critiques Trump’s management of his family’s business empire, with the AI-generated Fred Trump lamenting, “The brand I built is crap because of you. You’re trash. You’ll be lucky to stay out of jail. I may have lost my mind, but I never lost my business.”
Trump’s Team Reacts
When reached for a response regarding the ad, Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung sidestepped commenting directly on it.
Instead, he focused on criticizing The Lincoln Project, highlighting the past sexual harassment allegations against its co-founder, John Weaver.
“Lincoln Project was founded by a man accused of sexually abusing young people,” Cheung claimed.
Allegations of Sexual Harassment
These allegations surfaced in a 2021 New York Times article, which detailed almost two dozen accounts accusing Weaver, a known Republican strategist, of longstanding sexual harassment.
Regretting Actions
In the article, Weaver admitted to sending sexually harassing messages, expressing regret for causing discomfort in what he believed were consensual exchanges.
An Ex-Advisor
Notably, Weaver has worked as an advisor for presidential candidates like John McCain and John Kasich and is currently not active in The Lincoln Project.
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