Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jack White has publicly rebuked Republican Congressman Tim Burchett after the lawmaker shared a misleading AI-generated video on the social media platform X that purported to show White saying Donald Trump supporters should not listen to his music. The incident has drawn widespread attention this week as the video clip, which was generated using artificial intelligence and falsely attributed quotes to the musician, spread online before being flagged as fake content by platform indicators.
Burchett, who represents Tennessee’s 2nd congressional district and has served in the U.S. House since 2019, reposted the AI video on December 29, 2025, alongside a mocking comment comparing White’s appearance to the fictional character from The Addams Family. The clip itself was sourced from an account that had changed usernames multiple times since mid-2024 and used footage of White from a previous public appearance, though the speech depicted was fabricated by AI.
White responded on December 30 with a lengthy post on Instagram, expressing disbelief that an elected official from his home state would spread a falsified video without verification and add personal insults. In his statement, White called the act “like a 10 year old on a playground” and questioned the current state of political leadership in the U.S., asking, “What kind of joke are we all living in now?” He criticized what he called “cheap, childish, grade school bullying points and fake Christian(!) rhetoric,” and said it was “sad how embarrassing our leadership has become.” White also took aim at the broader political climate, referencing his ongoing criticisms of former President Donald Trump and his allies, and saying Tennessee “deserves better” representation.
When confronted by other users pointing out that the video was not authentic, Burchett appeared to double down on his earlier mockery, questioning whether it was truly not real. At the same time, the clip’s audio was assessed by independent verification tools as “very likely AI-generated,” and White did not make the original statements attributed to him in the shared video.
The exchange has fueled further discussion about the use of deepfake and AI-generated content in political discourse, bringing renewed scrutiny to how public figures and elected officials may amplify misleading material on social platforms. White’s response adds to his history of outspoken commentary on political figures; in prior instances he has criticized Trump’s policies and actions, including a separate 2024 lawsuit over the use of a White Stripes song in campaign materials that he later dropped.
No official statement has yet been released from Burchett’s office or the broader Republican leadership regarding the incident, and social media discussions continue to reflect a mix of criticism and debate over both deepfake technology and its role in political messaging.
