Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show," has criticized former President Donald Trump's use of artificial intelligence-generated memes and other tactics to engage with Canada, a key U.S. trading partner.
Stewart highlighted posts made by Trump on his Truth Social platform, which included AI-generated images. One such image depicted Trump in ice skates, which Stewart used to comment on Trump's physical condition. "First of all, I can’t believe AI has gotten so advanced it can fit Trump’s ankles into ice skates," Stewart remarked on his show, referencing Trump's chronic venous insufficiency which can cause swelling in the feet. He pointed out the image's artificiality, stating, "That’s not real. That can’t be right. That’s computer-generated."
In addition to the memes, Stewart noted Trump's proposal to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America." Stewart questioned the strategy behind these actions, given Canada's significant economic ties to the United States.
"Canada’s our second-largest trading partner," Stewart stated. "Sixty percent of our oil imports come from Canada. Half of our timber. We get parts for cars and planes, not to mention 100% of our Carly Raes Jepsen. Why would we be trolling them? Is that the plan — to troll them into submission?"
Stewart's commentary focused on the perceived absurdity of using AI-generated content and provocative gestures in international diplomacy, particularly with a nation that is a vital economic ally.