Evolving Media Landscape: Lara Trump Highlights Trust Concerns And AI Risks At The 1 Billion Followers Summit

Lara Trump used a fireside chat at the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 to praise Dubai’s blend of culture, elegance and security, saying the city attracts many Western visitors to the region. "Dubai is the hub of the world in so many respects," Trump told attendees, highlighting how the emirate shapes global conversations around media and technology.

Speaking as a political figure, media personality and artist, Trump said Dubai and the wider UAE have helped make Americans and other Western nationals feel more comfortable visiting the Middle East. Trump described the UAE’s progress as an example for neighbouring countries, pointing to the city’s infrastructure, safety and openness as reasons global audiences pay attention.

Trump warned that artificial intelligence could amplify deepfakes and misinformation, even as it changes how people consume news. She said the spread of manipulated images and videos raises serious concerns for elections and public debate. Trump called for international rules governing AI tools and social media platforms, stressing the need to shield children from harmful online content.

Trump welcomed steps in Australia and France to restrict social media access for minors, describing them as examples other governments might study. She also cautioned that disinformation could intensify before the US midterm elections in November. According to Trump, global cooperation on digital rules is becoming essential as societies deal with fast‑changing technologies and fragmented information sources.

Addressing the changing media landscape, Trump said audiences increasingly look beyond traditional outlets as confidence declines. She explained how hosting her own podcast, ‘The Right View’, allowed direct conversations with viewers without newsroom filters. Trump argued that social platforms, for all their problems, give people more ways to check information against other sources.

She contrasted newer formats with established broadcasters and newspapers in the United States. "Legacy media, in the United States at least, hasn’t always been completely truthful. There’s always been a slant and an opinion to so much of what has been presented," noted Trump, encouraging journalists to make their methods clear and disclose influences that might affect impartiality.

Trump advised audiences to broaden their news intake rather than rely on a single channel or website. She urged people to follow independent journalists alongside legacy media while staying aware of misinformation and unverified claims. Trump said careful, wide reading, combined with cautious adoption of tools such as generative AI, is crucial in what can feel like an unsettled information environment.

Trump also discussed how political divisions shape media habits in the United States, saying echo chambers often hide shared interests. During Trump’s time as co‑chair of the Republican National Committee for Donald Trump’s 2024 election campaign, outreach targeted communities that disagreed with the party. "I do think that we would all be better served, especially in the US, to tune into what somebody else might have to say, who we know does not agree with us, and engage with people who have a differing viewpoint," said Trump.

Reflecting on joining the Trump family and the scrutiny that followed, Trump described the shift in public attitudes. "It was pretty immediate that things went from us being a name with which people would want to associate themselves, to being persona non grata," said Trump, adding that criticism later became a sign that her work reached people. "You realise that the people whose opinions matter most are the people who actually know you and everything else is just noise," she said.

The fireside chat formed part of a wider programme at the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026, organised by the UAE Government Media Office under the theme ‘Content for Good’. The event brings more than 15,000 content creators and over 500 expert speakers, with a combined following of 3.5 billion, to Jumeirah Emirates Towers, DIFC and the Museum of the Future from 9 to 11 January 2026.

With inputs from WAM