AI-Driven MAGA Bot Network on X Fractures Over Trump-Epstein Controversy

A vast network of pro-Trump bot accounts on X (formerly Twitter) is showing visible cracks after the MAGA movement became divided over the Trump administration’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related files.

Researchers say the bot activity, powered by artificial intelligence, has begun producing inconsistent and contradictory messages, revealing the non-organic nature of these accounts.

Coordinated Network, AI at the Helm

According to analysts from social media intelligence firm Alethea and Clemson University, over 400 bot accounts—likely many more—have been identified as part of a coordinated effort to amplify support for leading Trump administration figures.

These bots routinely flood replies to prominent conservatives with positive, repetitive statements, especially about Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Typical for such networks, these accounts have few followers and minimal engagement. However, the goal appears to be less about direct influence and more about cultivating an echo chamber within the MAGA online community.

“They’re not really there to get engagement. They’re there to just be occasionally seen in those replies,” said Darren Linvill, director of Clemson’s Media Forensics Hub.

Bot Patterns: Automated, Repetitive, and Sometimes Erratic

The network exhibits tell-tale bot behavior: accounts were created in batches on a few specific days last year, rely heavily on irrelevant hashtags, and almost exclusively post as replies—often to verified users.

Many responses are strikingly similar, and at times bots simply echo others’ posts verbatim.

While researchers did not detail their detection methods, the distinctive behavior patterns make the accounts easy to distinguish from genuine users. The identity of the network’s operator and the specific AI system used remain unknown.

Messaging Breaks Down Over Epstein Files

Until recently, the bots stayed consistently on message, supporting Trump and other Republican figures—sometimes even mixing in praise for liberal personalities like Rachel Maddow, likely a glitch.

However, the recent controversy over the Trump administration’s refusal to release further files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has caused the network’s messaging to splinter.

After Attorney General Pam Bondi announced no new Epstein files would be published, bots began posting conflicting replies: some defended Bondi and other officials, while others condemned them and even urged a revolt against the Trump administration.

In one striking example, during the same minute, a bot cautioned a MAGA supporter not to judge Bondi harshly and told another user that Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel should resign.

This contradiction marks a sharp break from the bots’ previously uniform messaging. Some posts now urge followers to “retweet if you believe that Trump & his cronies are lying to the public and treating us like we’re stupid. We won’t be fooled by their games.”

Mirroring Real MAGA Division

C. Shawn Eib, head of investigations at Alethea, notes that this split mirrors genuine divisions among Trump supporters: “This split reaction mimics the organic reaction among supporters of Trump’s second administration. It’s possible that the behavior of these automated accounts is influenced by content posted from prominent influencers, and this shift is reflective of the general change in tenor among many of Trump’s supporters.”

A Wider Problem of Inauthentic Accounts

Bot networks are not new to social media, but the rise of powerful AI chatbots has dramatically increased their reach and believability.

With social platforms like X reducing moderation—especially after Elon Musk’s acquisition and subsequent gutting of the trust and safety teams—these networks now operate with little oversight, making it difficult for researchers to assess their true scope.

The White House, the Department of Health and Human Services, and X itself all declined to comment on the matter.

Conclusion

The recent split in messaging among MAGA-aligned bots on X not only exposes the artificial intelligence driving these networks but also highlights how rapidly online discourse can be shaped—and distorted—by inauthentic actors.

As moderation wanes and AI grows more sophisticated, the challenge of distinguishing genuine political debate from manufactured consensus is set to become even more complex.