AI in the Crossfire: China's Propaganda Push Against Trump's Policies

A report by OpenAI reveals efforts by Chinese propagandists to leverage generative AI for influencing U.S. debates about tariffs and data centers. These efforts included manipulating chat content and producing critical imagery of Trump and his policies. However, the tactics appear to have had minimal impact.

Chinese propagandists have reportedly sought to harness OpenAI's advanced chat platform in order to sway U.S. opinion against Donald Trump's policies on tariffs and technology, according to a report released on Wednesday.

OpenAI's findings indicate that while these strategies, employed between late 2025 and early 2026, have thus far shown little effectiveness, they highlight the growing role of AI in digital influence campaigns. The Chinese Embassy in Washington has dismissed the allegations, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring AI serves the global good.

Among the tactics identified were the use of AI to create slogans and cartoons criticizing Trump, which were then distributed on various platforms, including X. Additionally, efforts to influence discussions on AI policy and data center distribution in America were noted.