Political ads with made-up trans people are being used to bash Democrats

September 10, 2026

Elon Musk's America PAC has launched an extensive digital advertising campaign featuring at least 38 ads that target transgender people and attack Democratic candidates over their historical support for transgender rights. The advertisements, which may utilize AI-generated imagery, depict transgender women through exaggerated stereotypes to portray them as threats to children and women's sports, particularly in competitive Senate races in Ohio and Texas. While Google temporarily removed some ads for policy violations before reinstating them, experts warn that such imagery—whether real or AI-generated—can powerfully influence voters' perceptions despite often being based on theoretical rather than documented concerns.

Who is affected

Transgender people, particularly transgender women and girls
Democratic candidates in competitive midterm Senate races, specifically Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and James Talarico (Texas)
Republican candidates Ken Paxton (Texas attorney general) and Jon Husted (Ohio senator)
Female athletes and young girls portrayed in the advertisements
Voters exposed to these political advertisements
Elon Musk and America PAC
Meta and Google platforms hosting the ads

What action is being taken

America PAC is releasing dozens of social media ads vilifying transgender people and criticizing Democratic candidates
Elon Musk plans to spend at least $100 million to help elect Republicans
Google briefly removed four ads for policy violations before reinstating them
James Talarico is condemning the AI-generated ads and stating he will not use AI in political advertising
Talarico walked back previous statements on transgender issues during a Fox News appearance, now opposing trans athletes in girls' sports if it risks safety or fairness

Why it matters

This advertising campaign represents a significant escalation in anti-transgender political messaging, particularly because it combines substantial financial resources (from the world's richest person) with potentially AI-generated imagery that creates harmful stereotypes and could be difficult for voters to distinguish from reality. The use of AI technology to create fabricated or exaggerated depictions of transgender individuals allows campaigns to manufacture visual "evidence" supporting narratives that often lack real-world examples, as lawmakers frequently struggle to cite actual cases when proposing anti-trans legislation. Experts warn this could normalize misinformation, increase anti-transgender sentiment, and set dangerous precedents for how AI can be weaponized in political campaigns, all while legal frameworks governing such use remain fragmented and inadequate across states with no federal oversight.

What's next

Republican James M. Hoops introduced legislation on September 2 regarding AI use in political advertising in Ohio
Experts anticipate continued normalization of AI-generated political content and increased anti-trans sentiment as a result of these campaigns

Read full article from source: The 19th