NBC News demands Trump official scrap deepfake debate reporter video
NBC News has called on a top Trump campaign official to take down a deepfake video purporting to show one of the network’s reporters breaking down last month’s third Republican primary debate.
Senior Trump 2024 adviser Chris LaCivita posted the video on Nov. 8 of Garrett Haake seemingly trash-talking Trump’s rivals ahead of the Miami debate, which NBC News co-hosted with the Republican National Committee.
The video, which was still on X as of Monday afternoon, started off as a normal “Meet the Press”-style report.
But it cut to footage of the candidates, with Haake’s voice berating each of the presidential hopefuls as they appeared on screen.
“This is Ron DeSantis, an establishment RINO that wears insoles in his boots in order to look taller,” the voice says over video of the Florida governor.
“And this is Nikki Haley,” said the voice of “Haake.” “Nobody really gives a s–t about Nikki Haley.”
The video then cut to South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, with the voice saying, “this guy is probably just a stagehand.”
“Who the f– invited this guy?” the voice then asked as former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appeared on the screen.
“And this guy is probably just delivering pizzas,” the roll call concluded of Vivek Ramaswamy.
“Anyway, nobody cares about these bulls–t RINO debates,” the deepfake added. “Especially when you know that Donald Trump is going to kick some ass tonight.”
The video then cut to show Trump dancing. The 77-year-old former president skipped the Miami debate, opting to hold a fundraiser in suburban Hialeah instead.
LaCivita later clarified that the video was meant as a “parody,” writing on X: “To keep NBC News lawyers off my ass, please note… THIS IS A PARODY.”
But NBC News lawyers have written to LaCivita urging him to take down the video, two people familiar with the exchange told Semafor.
The network declined comment when contacted by The Post.
It is unclear whether LaCivita created the video himself or whether it originated elsewhere.
“If the videotape was done by [or at the behest of] the Trump campaign, it could find itself in a torts lawsuit,” George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told Mediaite.
“If it is a reposting alone, there could be greater defenses in sharing a video that has drawn attention in the campaign, though NBC could still claim that the Trump campaign is replicating the violations.”
Turley also noted that “Haake has an obvious false light claim here” and “may also have a claim under appropriation of name or likeness.”
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
