Full Breakdown
AI Deepfakes Fuel Kentucky GOP Primary
5/8/2026, 4:36:49 AM
The Deepfake Attack Ads
The 2026 Republican primary for Kentucky’s 4th District saw two PACs release AI-generated videos that vilify the opponent. MAGA Kentucky’s ad shows Rep. Thomas Massie holding hands and checking into a hotel with Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, captioned “Thomas Massie caught in a throuple!” Kentucky 4th PAC’s ad depicts challenger Ed Gallrein fleeing a fictional battlefield as President Donald Trump fires at unseen enemies, implying cowardice.
Background & Legal Context
Kentucky passed legislation in 2025 regulating synthetic media in elections. The law does not ban deepfakes but allows candidates to seek injunctions if a clear disclosure is missing. Both ads include a disclaimer stating they were created with artificial intelligence, yet enforcement remains civil, not criminal.
Key Players and Funding
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is an incumbent who has opposed several Trump-priority bills. Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and SEAL Veterans Foundation ambassador, is the Trump-endorsed challenger. MAGA Kentucky PAC, which funded the anti-Massie ad, lists donors Paul Singer, Miriam Adelson and John Paulson. Kentucky 4th PAC, behind the anti-Gallrein ad, has not disclosed contributors and missed its FEC filing deadline.
Data & Campaign Spending
Since last summer, MAGA Kentucky PAC has spent $5 million on ads against Massie; Kentucky 4th PAC has spent nearly $2 million against Gallrein since April. A Quantus Insights poll gave Massie 46.8 % support with 14 % undecided, while a later Big Data poll showed a 52-48 % lead for Massie.
Official Statements & Responses
Massie called the throuple ad “disgusting” and “defamatory,” accusing its creators of exploiting older voters. Gallrein’s campaign cited a veteran’s condemnation, calling the ad an insult to veterans. A spokesperson for Attorney General Russell Coleman said candidates may file civil complaints if the ads lack the required disclosure.
Criticism & Opposition
Rep. Ilhan Omar called the Massie ad “despicable” and demanded its removal. Col. Walter Herd, a veteran, called the Gallrein ad “an act of cowardice and treachery.” Marjorie Taylor Greene suggested the throuple ad may violate the Take It Down Act’s ban on non-consensual intimate imagery.
Verbatim Quotes
- “beyond the pale” — Thomas Massie, Rep.
- “Campaign attack ads are generally misleading, but AI-generated ads like this cross a line and should never have been allowed in the first place,” — Ilhan Omar, Rep.
- “Thomas Massie should sue the 3 Israel FIRST billionaires funding woke Eddies campaign and everyone involved in making this fake video and everyone who puts it out,” — Marjorie Taylor Greene, former Rep.
- “If the campaigns believe the ads violate the law, they have the ability to file a civil complaint with their circuit court,” — Spokesperson for AG Russell Coleman
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Analysts disagree whether the throuple ad meets the Take It Down Act’s definition of non-consensual intimate imagery. Kentucky 4th PAC’s donors remain undisclosed. The 2025 law also lacks criminal penalties, limiting enforcement.
What’s Next
The Republican primary is set for May 19, 2026. Candidates may file civil injunctions under the 2025 statute if the ads continue without proper disclosure. The case could influence future AI-generated political content.
