The one-minute spot that aired Sunday opens with what sounds like President Donald Trump promising an “all new Fannie Mae” and calling the institution the “protector of the American Dream.” A brief on-screen disclaimer reveals the voice is an AI-cloned version of the president, created with permission from the Trump administration.
At a Glance
- Fannie Mae’s new ad uses AI to replicate President Trump’s voice
- The White House approved the voice clone, but the vendor is unnamed
- Trump is set to discuss housing affordability at the World Economic Forum in Davos
- The ad drops as the administration pledges historic housing reforms
Why it matters: The commercial signals the administration’s push to convince voters it is tackling housing costs, while the president’s embrace of AI voice tech contrasts with past criticism of automated signatures.
AI Voice Approved by White House
The campaign marks the second recent use of synthetic audio by the first family. First Lady Melania Trump recently used AI firm Eleven Labs to voice the audiobook of her memoir. The identity of the company that cloned the president’s voice for the Fannie Mae spot has not been disclosed.
In the ad, the digitized Trump narrates:
> “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.”
The spot closes by saying Fannie Mae will partner with banks to qualify more would-be buyers.
Push for Sweeping Housing Changes
The advertisement arrives as Trump readies remarks on U.S. housing affordability at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where global leaders and CEOs gather this week.
During last month’s prime-time address, the president vowed to unveil “some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history.”
Proposals floated so far include:
- Taking Fannie Mae and sibling Freddie Mac public; no timetable has been set
- Extending the standard 30-year mortgage to 50 years to cut monthly payments-an idea Trump appeared to soften after critics warned it could erode homeowner equity
- Directing the government to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds using cash held by the two housing giants, a step the president says will push mortgage rates lower
- Barring large institutional investors from buying single-family homes to free up inventory for first-time buyers
Fannie and Freddie’s Central Role
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have operated under federal conservatorship since the Great Recession. Together they guarantee about half of the $13 trillion U.S. mortgage market, buying qualifying loans from lenders to keep money flowing for new originations.
Autopen Contradiction
Trump’s willingness to sanction an AI replica of his voice contrasts with earlier complaints about officials in the Biden administration using an autopen-a mechanical signing device-to affix the former president’s signature to documents. A House Republican report on the practice offered no firm proof Biden’s name was ever signed without his knowledge.
Global Spotlight on AI
The Fannie Mae ad debuted as nine humanoid robots assembled at the ‘AI for Good’ conference in Geneva, Switzerland, where organizers promoted artificial intelligence as a tool for solving global challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Fannie Mae’s marketing now features AI-cloned presidential audio approved by the White House
- Trump heads to Davos to spotlight housing affordability amid voter concern over high prices
- Administration officials have floated dramatic changes to mortgage terms and investor rules, but concrete timelines remain unclear
