Overview
- The Indiana Senate majority leader posted four AI-generated images on X on Dec. 25 that show him punching, kicking, and body-slamming Santa.
- The accompanying caption framed the scenes as a stand against bureaucratic overreach and unfunded mandates supposedly coming from the North Pole.
- Replies on X widely criticized the violent holiday imagery as inappropriate for a state leader, with many users calling it disturbing.
- Chris Garten defended the post, called detractors “clowns” and “snowflakes,” and said he designed the images with his kids.
- As of Dec. 26, the images remained online and news outlets reported no formal disciplinary action or official state response.