At a Glance
- President Donald Trump gave permission for an AI-cloned version of his voice to appear in a new Fannie Mae commercial.
- The ad promises an “all new Fannie Mae” and casts the agency as the “protector of the American Dream.”
- Why it matters: The move signals the administration’s push to highlight housing affordability fixes ahead of Trump’s housing-focused speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
A new Fannie Mae television spot that sounds like President Donald Trump is narrating it in fact uses an AI-generated copy of his voice, according to a disclaimer that runs with the video.
The Trump administration authorized the cloning, the ad’s fine print shows, making it the second time in months that a member of the first family has turned to artificial voice technology. First Lady Melania Trump recently used AI firm Eleven Labs to produce the audiobook for her memoir; the company or individual behind the president’s synthetic voice has not been disclosed.
Sunday’s one-minute commercial opens with the cloned voice declaring, “For generations, home ownership meant security, independence, and stability. But today, that dream feels out of reach for too many Americans-not because they stopped working hard, but because the system stopped working for them.”
Inside the Administration’s Housing Push
The spot lands as the White House intensifies its effort to convince voters it is tackling affordability concerns, especially in the housing market. Trump is scheduled to address global business and government leaders in Davos, Switzerland, where he plans to put housing policy at the center of his remarks.
Last month, during a prime-time address, the president vowed to unveil “some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history.”
Key proposals already floated include:
- Extending the standard 30-year mortgage to 50 years to shrink monthly payments
- Directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to deploy $200 billion in cash to purchase mortgage-backed securities, a step Trump said will pull mortgage rates lower
- Barring large institutional investors from acquiring single-family homes so younger families face less competition
The administration has not released detailed timetables or legislative text for any of the measures.
Fannie Mae’s Role-and Possible Stock Listing
Fannie Mae, together with sibling enterprise Freddie Mac, has operated under federal conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis. The two entities:
- Buy qualifying mortgages from banks
- Guarantee roughly half of America’s $13 trillion home-loan market
- Provide liquidity that keeps mortgage rates relatively stable
The new ad says the agency will “work with the banking industry to approve more would-be homebuyers for mortgages.”
Trump and Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, have both voiced support for returning Fannie and Freddie to private investor ownership by listing shares on a major stock exchange. No concrete plan has been set.
Critics of the 50-year mortgage idea contend that longer terms would slow equity growth and leave borrowers paying far more interest over time. After the concept drew fire, Trump appeared to back away from it, at least temporarily.
AI Approval Contrasts With Autopen Criticism
The president’s consent for an AI voice double is notable given his previous complaints about White House aides using an autopen-a mechanical signature device-on legislation, pardons, and executive orders. Trump has argued such tools can be used to sign a president’s name without direct approval.
A report released by House Republicans found no firm evidence that autopen was used to affix President Joe Biden‘s signature without his knowledge.
The Fannie Mae ad closes with the cloned voice promising, “Together, we will protect the American Dream-today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.”
Key Takeaways
- The administration authorized AI cloning of Trump’s voice to promote Fannie Mae’s new housing push
- Multiple housing proposals-longer loans, bond purchases, investor restrictions-have been floated but not finalized
- Trump is set to spotlight housing affordability on the global stage in Davos this week
