A hidden web of AI-powered bots is stirring political conversations on X (formerly Twitter), promoting Trump administration figures and echoing MAGA talking points. But when a controversial decision about Jeffrey Epstein’s files hit the headlines, cracks in the bot network started to show. Here's what researchers have uncovered about this strange, synthetic campaign online.
AI Bot Network on X Pushes Pro-Trump Messaging, Then Splinters Over Epstein Controversy
A previously unreported network of hundreds of accounts on X is using artificial intelligence to automatically reply to conservatives with positive messages about individuals in the Trump administration, according to researchers.
But as the MAGA movement splinters over how the administration has handled files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the messaging from these AI-driven accounts has become inconsistent, exposing the bot-driven nature of the network.
The network was tracked for NBC News by social media analytics firm Alethea and researchers at Clemson University. They identified over 400 bot accounts, though they believe the real number may be significantly higher. The bots frequently praise key Trump administration figures, especially Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
As is typical for bot accounts, those reviewed by NBC News had limited followings—usually just a few dozen followers—and their posts rarely drew much attention. However, researchers believe their purpose isn’t to go viral, but rather to create a partisan echo chamber. According to Darren Linvill, director of Clemson’s Media Forensics Hub, these bots aim to subtly shape public perception.
“They’re not really there to get engagement. They’re there to just be occasionally seen in those replies,” Linvill explained.
The researchers didn’t reveal the exact methods used to identify the bot accounts but noted distinct patterns. All were created in batches on three specific days last year. They frequently use unrelated hashtags, reply to verified users, and often repeat similar phrases in quick succession. In some cases, the bots simply parrot another user’s post word-for-word.
It remains unclear who created the network or which publicly available AI chatbot was used to power it.
These bots have been active since early 2024, routinely voicing support for Trump and other Republicans during the election cycle and afterward expressing excitement for Trump’s return to office. While they occasionally post mixed messages—some, oddly, praising MSNBC host Rachel Maddow—the overall tone had been consistently pro-MAGA until the Epstein controversy erupted.
A significant portion of Trump’s base expected him to expose a list of Epstein’s elite clients and bring justice to victims. That expectation collided with reality earlier this month when Attorney General Pam Bondi announced she would not release additional Epstein files. The bots' messages suddenly fractured—some urging calm, others calling for resignations or outright rebellion.
For example, during one minute last Saturday morning, a single account both advised a MAGA supporter not to judge Bondi too harshly and, moments later, urged another user to demand resignations from Bondi and FBI officials Kash Patel and Dan Bongino.
When Bondi first made her announcement, one bot stated she “comes out clean as the DOJ confirms no Epstein client list found, while reaffirming his death by suicide.” That same account later posted:
“Retweet if you believe that Trump & his cronies are lying to the public and treating us like we’re stupid. We won’t be fooled by their games.”
According to C. Shawn Eib, head of investigations at Alethea, the bots appear to be trained on real MAGA accounts, which typically display more unified messaging. The sudden discord suggests the bots are echoing genuine confusion among Trump supporters.
“This split reaction mimics the organic reaction among supporters of Trump’s second administration,” Eib noted. “It’s possible that the behavior of these automated accounts is influenced by content posted from prominent influencers.”
For years, social media platforms have hosted inauthentic accounts meant to sway public opinion—whether selling products or pushing political propaganda. The rapid growth of AI chatbots has now supercharged this phenomenon, with automated systems capable of producing convincing posts at scale. Meanwhile, moderation by social platforms has declined sharply.
The White House declined to comment, and both the Department of Health and Human Services and X did not respond to NBC’s inquiries.
While the full extent of the bot presence on X remains unknown, researchers believe the platform is saturated with inauthentic accounts. A different AI-driven pro-Trump network was discovered just last year. But with Elon Musk’s 2022 acquisition of X and the subsequent dismantling of the trust and safety team, researchers say it's now much harder to access data or understand the scope of such networks.
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