Republican Congressman Eric Burlison of Missouri wants to be known as a champion of American manufacturing and the American worker. And rather than visiting a factory and taking pics of real American workers, he used AI instead.

“We’re not going to beat China with cheap labor but we can beat them by outproducing them,” Burlison posted on Facebook. “Advanced manufacturing is the key, and American workers can lead the world.”

Thousands of people commented on his post, pointing out the ridiculousness and hypocrisy of using an AI image.

“Nothing says pride in the U.S. like a flag with 11 stripes and 41 stars.”

“You could start first by hiring American artists, yeah?”

“You couldn’t go somewhere in Missouri and find actual factory workers? Oh, but that would require actually going out and speaking with your constituents.”

“Bro not even this meme was made in the USA,”

“Ah. The good ole 11 original colonies and 41 states that we learned about in school!”

“Bro couldn’t even be bothered to step foot in an actual factory for a photo.”

“How about using an image of actual American factory workers?”

The irony of a Republican touting American-made while not bothering to use an image from a real American factory was lost on virtually no one.