Trump shares Kaitlan Collins AI image tied to Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light ad
Trump posted an AI image of Kaitlan Collins with Bud Light after WHCD remarks about the CNN anchor, TMZ reported.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Donald Trump shared a Kaitlan Collins AI image on Truth Social Sunday, depicting the CNN anchor in a setup tied to Dylan Mulvaney’s 2023 Bud Light promotion, TMZ reported.
The image showed Collins smiling in a black dress and gloves while holding a Bud Light, with more cans placed in front of her, according to TMZ. The staging echoed Mulvaney’s Bud Light ad, which became a flashpoint for conservative backlash in 2023.
The post followed Trump’s appearance at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Friday night, where he singled out Collins during his remarks, TMZ reported.
What did Trump post about Kaitlan Collins?
Trump posted an AI-generated picture of Collins that TMZ said portrayed her as transgender actress Dylan Mulvaney. The image appeared on Trump’s Truth Social account Sunday and was also shared by the Rapid Response 47 account on X.
Artificial intelligence images can create realistic-looking scenes that did not actually happen. In this case, TMZ identified the picture as AI-generated and tied its imagery to the earlier Bud Light controversy involving Mulvaney.
At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump took aim at Collins and her journalism award, calling it “fake,” according to TMZ. He also made remarks about her appearance and told her she should smile, with C-SPAN video showing the moment.
Trump then made a Bud Light joke about Collins, saying he wanted to congratulate her on a major sponsorship before saying he found out it was actually Mulvaney in the ad, TMZ reported.
How did Kaitlan Collins and CNN respond?
Collins appeared to answer the moment indirectly afterward. TMZ reported that she posted a quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
She also emphasized the First Amendment and the role of asking difficult questions of powerful people, according to TMZ.
CNN backed Collins in a statement to TMZ. A network spokesperson said, “Kaitlan Collins is an exceptional, trusted journalist being honored tonight for her depth of knowledge and the context she provides to audiences all over the world.”
The spokesperson added that Collins reports from the White House and in the field “with real strength and tenacity” and said CNN stands by her “to the fullest extent.”
Why was Bud Light part of the joke?
Mulvaney partnered with Bud Light in 2023 while documenting her transition online, TMZ reported. The campaign triggered a conservative backlash against the beer brand.
Kid Rock drew attention during that backlash when he shot cases of Bud Light, according to TMZ. Donald Trump Jr. initially criticized the campaign, then later urged people to end the boycott, TMZ reported.
The new post put that old culture-war fight back into the mix, this time with Collins as the target of an AI-made image shared from Trump’s own Truth Social account.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.