Bill Pulte Shows Trump Memes Aboard Air Force One, Some Almost Certainly AI-Generated

President Donald Trump is reportedly being shown internet memes and posters, some almost certainly AI-generated, by a senior government official who regularly joins him aboard Air Force One.

Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, also shows Trump documents related to the mortgage industry during these encounters, according to reporting by The New York Times, as summarised by Futurism. An administration official reportedly likened Pulte to a court jester.

The revelations offer a glimpse into the information environment surrounding the president. According to the reporting, Trump is increasingly surrounded by favourable media coverage, disparaging clips about his perceived opponents and what one White House official called 'AI slop'.

Bill Pulte's Unusual Access to Trump

Pulte reportedly visits Trump's cabin aboard Air Force One while the president travels to and from rallies, showing him memes, posters and mortgage-related documents. Some of the memes are almost certainly AI-generated, although the reporting does not establish that Pulte creates them or controls the wider range of content Trump encounters.

Trump has also repeatedly shared AI-generated videos and images on Truth Social, including material glorifying himself, attacking political opponents and attempting to rewrite reality.

Could Grok Be Influencing Trump's Presidential Decisions?

The concerns extend beyond social media posts and online entertainment. A report by TIME raised questions about Trump's conversations with Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok and their possible influence on his thinking about major decisions.

According to Futurism's account of the TIME reporting, Trump reportedly spent hours talking to Grok during a December 2025 meeting with Musk at the White House. Among other questions, Trump reportedly asked how Venezuelans would react if US forces captured the country's president, Nicolás Maduro.

Grok reportedly described Maduro as deeply unpopular and suggested that many Venezuelans would celebrate his removal. After Maduro was captured in January 2026 and celebrations followed, Trump reportedly came away thinking the chatbot was 'ingenious'.

The reported exchange raises questions about the potential consequences of a president consulting an AI chatbot while considering matters involving national security and military action. However, the account does not establish that Grok explicitly recommended an invasion, persuaded Trump to order the operation or determined his decision-making.

The issue has also prompted action from senior Democrats. House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin and House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia have called on the White House to preserve Trump's AI chatbot prompts and the responses he received.

They have also requested a briefing on the president's use of AI and the administration's policies for retaining such records.

Trump's Reaction to Criticism Raises Further Questions

The reporting also describes Trump's reaction to unfavourable commentary. One example involved comedian Bill Maher, who joked about Trump's alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his affinity for Russia.

Trump subsequently published a roughly 1,300-word rant about Maher on Truth Social.

The post was so extensive that breaking news accounts on social media reportedly struggled to capture it in a single screenshot. The episode illustrates the contrast between the favourable material Trump reportedly consumes and his reaction when confronted with criticism.

The broader concern is whether generative AI could reinforce existing beliefs when its output is consumed alongside flattering coverage and material attacking perceived critics.

As Trump continues to embrace AI-generated images and videos, questions about the information reaching the president — and the possible influence of AI on his thinking — are unlikely to disappear.