A video of a Florida governor candidate was AI slop. People spread it anyway. - Poynter

"Politicians and other X users shared a manipulated clip appearing to show U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the leading Republican candidate in the Florida gubernatorial race, supporting insider trading as a way to live with luxury. Chris Nelson, a conservative activist and writer, shared the video on X with the caption, “Byron Donalds says insider trading should ABSOLUTELY BE ALLOWED for members of Congress.” The post got thousands of shares."

"In the video, Donalds appeared to say: “Insider trading should absolutely be allowed for members of Congress. Look, the salary, it doesn't cut it anymore. If I happen to make millions because I'm privy to sensitive government information, well, that's called initiative. The American people want leaders who know how to capitalize on opportunity. That's leadership. I want a bigger house. I want to drive a Bentley. I want investment properties in Miami and Aspen.”"

"But Donalds didn't say that. It's a fake video, altered from a real CBN News interview on May 8. A Donalds spokesperson said the video involved artificial intelligence and did not reflect the congressman's words. This is what Donalds really said: “You know, my mother, she has three children. I'm the middle child. My parents never married, just, they ain't come together, whatever happened between my parents. But my mom just did everything that she could.”"

"The first instance of the video that PolitiFact found came from an X account with 21 followers that regularly posts deepfakes of Donalds. Within minutes of the account sharing the deepfake of Donalds talking about insider trading, Ne…"

A manipulated clip circulated on X showing U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds appearing to endorse allowing insider trading for members of Congress. Posts claimed he said the salary was insufficient and that making millions using sensitive government information was “initiative” and “leadership.” The video also included references to wanting a bigger house, driving a Bentley, and owning investment properties in Miami and Aspen. The clip was identified as fake and altered from a real CBN News interview from May 8. A spokesperson said the video used artificial intelligence and did not reflect Donalds’ statements. The earliest identified version came from an X account with a small following that regularly posts deepfakes of Donalds.

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