A staffer for Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers posted a birthday tweet that included an AI-altered photo making him look dramatically more muscular. The post—labeled “Made with AI”—prompted fast online mockery, with rivals and prominent Democrats trad
On a Tuesday meant to be about a simple birthday wish, a Michigan Senate campaign instead collided with an AI image—and the internet didn’t let it go.
Abby Ronson, a staffer working in former Rep. Mike Rogers’s campaign, posted a tweet wishing Rogers a happy birthday. The post included a photo showing the 62-year-old walking in what appeared to be a campaign march. In the image, Rogers looked far more muscular than the original he had previously posted from the campaign trail.
Under the edited picture, Ronson added a disclaimer: “Made with AI.” But once people found the original photo, it was clear the new version had been heavily edited to make Rogers appear “much more buff” than he actually is.
The backlash spread quickly on X/Twitter. Fellow Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow joked that the picture was an example of “gender affirming care.” Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) responded with sarcasm. writing. “I don’t see the issue. ” while his own tweet included a visibly altered image of him towering over Rep. Byron Donalds (R).
Other accounts piled on with jokes tied directly to what they saw as the central contradiction: a campaign image making Rogers look physically different—while the staffer’s caption tried to frame it as AI experimentation rather than deception.
American Bridge 21st Century also mocked the situation with a list of “things Mike Rogers lies about,” including “his physique,” alongside claims about whether Rogers actually lives in Michigan and whether he “prioritiz[es] the best interests of Michiganders.”
Rogers, 62, is running in Michigan’s Senate race, and the edited birthday photo has become a stand-in argument online about the line between political messaging and digital fabrication—especially when the alteration is visible enough to make the dispute turn into a meme within hours.
Michigan Senate Mike Rogers Abby Ronson AI image X/Twitter Mallory McMorrow Jared Moskowitz Byron Donalds campaign staffer political backlash
This is why nobody trusts campaigns anymore. AI photo = instant liar.
Wait I thought it said “made with AI” like for fun? So are they mad he looks buff?? Kinda weird to care that much. Also Michigan politics is already stressful enough lol.
The funniest part is people pretend this is some new scandal, like every candidate hasn’t been using edited pics forever. It’s not like he made a whole fake person or something. But I guess the internet needs a villain and “AI” is it.
I saw the meme and it looked like he was on steroids or something, not just “AI editing.” So does that mean he actually doesn’t look like that in real life?? And why would the staffer post it with the disclaimer if they knew it would blow up. Seems like they wanted it to be a distraction from whether he even lives in Michigan too.