Trump Accused of Using ChatGPT to Draft Tariff Plan After Bizarre Similarities Found

 

In a bizarre twist to the 2024 campaign trail aftermath, former President Donald J. Trump is facing a flurry of online speculation and policy scrutiny after announcing a sweeping new tariff proposal that some claim was written—or at least inspired—by an artificial intelligence chatbot.

The accusations stem from what experts and internet sleuths are calling “eerily identical” language and logic between Trump’s proposed “America First Tariff Doctrine” and output generated by ChatGPT when prompted with similar economic questions.

 

The Plan That Sparked It All

At a rally in Youngstown, Ohio last week, Trump announced a new trade plan that would implement a “universal tariff algorithm” based on a country’s trade surplus with the U.S. The former president, with trademark bravado, described it as a “perfect formula, maybe the best formula in history,” that would ensure the U.S. “wins every trade war before it even starts.”

The formula Trump cited was strikingly simple:

“If Country X exports $200 billion to us and imports $50 billion, we take the difference—$150 billion—divide it by total exports, and turn that into a tariff percentage. That’s fair. That’s reciprocal.”

The crowd roared. But economists blinked.

“This Feels... Generated?”

It didn’t take long for curious minds on Reddit and TikTok to put the math to the test—by turning to ChatGPT and other AI tools. When prompted with phrases like “Give a simple formula for setting fair tariffs based on trade imbalance”, ChatGPT returned nearly the same formula Trump had presented. Some users even posted videos showing ChatGPT’s answer:

“One basic way to calculate a proportional tariff might be:
Tariff % = (Trade Deficit / Country’s Exports to U.S.) x 100.”

The only difference? ChatGPT included a warning:

“Note: This is a simplistic and non-recommended method that does not account for broader economic dynamics or international trade law.”

Yet the similarity didn’t stop at the numbers. The phrasing, rhetorical tone, and even the idea of calling it “reciprocal” all appeared in chatbot outputs.

Coincidence or Copilot?

The incident has kicked off an unusual political firestorm, with critics accusing Trump’s campaign team of “outsourcing economic policy to an unpaid intern made of circuits.” Others see it as further evidence of the growing influence of AI on political discourse—and a possible ethical minefield if candidates begin relying on AI-generated content for real-world policies.

“I wish I were surprised,” said Dr. Fiona Murata, a political technologist at MIT. “We’ve had speechwriters use AI for fluff, but this is possibly the first time we’re seeing algorithmic policy design influencing national economic frameworks. That’s a major shift—even if unintended.”

Team Trump Responds

When pressed for comment during a brief airport tarmac exchange in Tampa, Trump laughed off the allegations.

“ChatGPT? I don’t even know what that is,” he said. “I write my own stuff. I’ve been doing deals longer than Silicon Valley’s been alive.”

Campaign manager Katrina Pierson echoed this, stating, “President Trump’s ideas are rooted in decades of experience, not AI gimmicks. If ChatGPT happens to agree, well, that just proves how smart the president’s instincts are.”

However, an anonymous source close to the campaign reportedly told Axios that the team had “experimented with AI tools for brainstorming” during the early days of the tariff plan. Whether those tools directly influenced the final draft remains unclear.

Echoes of a Larger Trend

Regardless of whether Trump personally typed prompts into ChatGPT, the incident has highlighted a broader trend: AI-generated content creeping into politics. From social media posts to campaign jingles, AI has become a silent player on both sides of the aisle.

In fact, during the 2024 election cycle, a number of PACs were revealed to be using AI to draft speeches, manage email campaigns, and simulate opposition arguments. But using it to craft cornerstone economic policy? That’s new—and concerning, say analysts.

“This isn’t just a chatbot answering trivia anymore,” said journalist Kara Finnigan. “It’s potentially shaping trade policy that impacts millions of lives.”

The Meme Explosion

As the controversy unfolded, the internet did what it does best: made memes. Posts flooded X (formerly Twitter), with images of ChatGPT wearing a MAGA hat, and quips like “Make AI Great Again.” One viral tweet read:

“When you forget your economics homework so you ask ChatGPT and then run for President with the answer.”

A parody video, posted by comedian Jordy Rein, showed an AI-generated Trump debating an AI-generated Biden—except both were just reading ChatGPT answers aloud. The caption: “Coming 2028.”

What Comes Next?

The Commerce Department has not responded to inquiries about whether AI-generated proposals would violate any transparency or lobbying laws. Experts say there's currently a gray area when it comes to AI authorship in politics.

Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign appears to be doubling down. In a recent Truth Social post, Trump wrote:

“The Fake News is attacking my tariff plan because it’s too smart! They say it’s AI? Maybe it’s just genius!”

Whether the tariff plan gains traction or becomes another viral footnote in Trump’s unconventional political playbook remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: in 2025, even trade wars come with algorithmic ghosts.

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