Jack White has sharply criticized Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett after the Republican lawmaker shared a manipulated AI video depicting the musician saying something he never actually said.
The video, which circulated on social media earlier this week, used artificial intelligence to place White’s likeness in footage of him dressed as he was during his 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, accompanied by an audio clip suggesting he told people “Don’t even think about listening to my music, you fascist.” The clip echoed a false narrative framing White as forbidding certain groups of people from listening to his music — a claim he has publicly denied in the past.
In a social media post on Instagram, White did not hold back in his response to Burchett’s resharing of the video and dismissive caption — “That cute little girl from the Addams Family got really ugly and angry,” a reference posted alongside the AI clip.
White’s lengthy statement expressed disbelief and frustration that an elected official would amplify a clearly fabricated video without checking its authenticity. He called the behavior “embarrassing” and likened the insults added by Burchett to playground taunts rather than serious political discourse. White also underscored the responsibility that comes with holding public office, suggesting that Tennessee — his home state — deserves better representation than what he described as partisan posturing and blind loyalty to political leaders.
The confrontation isn’t the first time White has been vocal about political misuse of his image and music. He has previously denied claims that he bans concert attendance by supporters of former President Donald Trump and has been critical of efforts to associate his art with causes or messages he does not endorse.
White’s Instagram response went beyond a simple denial, calling out broader political behavior he sees as troubling and nostalgic of schoolyard insults rather than constructive engagement. He specifically criticized what he termed the symbolic use of patriotism and religious imagery, suggesting that such gestures have been hollow when divorced from substantive leadership and respect for democratic values.
While neither Burchett’s office nor the original poster of the video has publicly acknowledged any mistake or taken down the AI clip, White’s rebuke has drawn attention to concerns about deepfake technology, misinformation, and the responsibilities of public figures when sharing content online.
