MAGA AI Bots Split Over Controversy Surrounding Trump and Epstein Backlash

Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown network of several hundred accounts on X that deploy artificial intelligence to send automated, supportive messages aimed at conservatives, specifically those associated with the Trump administration. However, a split among MAGA supporters regarding the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files has caused inconsistencies in the accounts’ messaging, revealing their AI-based nature. This network, identified by both the social media analytics firm Alethea and Clemson University researchers, contains over 400 confirmed bot accounts, though the actual number may be significantly higher.

These accounts consistently express admiration for prominent Trump figures such as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Typically, these bot accounts have only minimal followers and low engagement levels. Their primary purpose appears to be creating a partisan echo chamber, aiming to shape perceptions through repetitive messaging, as noted by Darren Linvill from Clemson University.

While the details surrounding the identification of these accounts remain undisclosed, researchers observed that they were seemingly created in batches on specific dates last year. These bots often enhance their posts with unrelated hashtags and communicate almost exclusively through replies, echoing similar sentiments rapidly. Some even respond to posts by simply repeating them verbatim.

Despite their seemingly random messaging, the bots have shown signs of shifting patterns in light of recent events, particularly the controversy surrounding Epstein. The origins of these accounts remain a mystery, including the AI chatbots used to operate them. Nevertheless, their supportive narratives for conservative figures date back to before the 2024 elections.

The researchers believe that the tumult surrounding Epstein’s files has contributed to their contradictory responses, which mirror the divided reactions among Trump supporters. As social media increasingly becomes a battleground for disinformation—intensified by AI advancements and reduced oversight—understanding the scope of such networks presents a significant challenge.