After New York Republican Representative-elect George Santos was seen sitting alone in the back row of the House chamber, a social media user mocked him by making a deepfake of him singing the hit song "All by Myself."
Santos sat alone as members of the House of Representatives grappled with an ongoing Republican rebellion designed to block former House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy from the speakership.
Santos did not speak with anyone and merely looked around, at times checking his phone as votes continued to be counted.
\u201cSantos sitting alone\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1672773225
At one point, he was found entertaining himself in other ways.
\u201cRepublican George Santos picking his nose and rolling off his booger at the opening of the 118th Congress.\u201d— PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1672773045
A short while later, a Twitter user came across a deepfake an anonymous denizen of the internet created of Santos singing Celine Dion's cover of "All by Myself," likely the most recognizable version of the soft rock hit first written and performed in the 1970s by former Raspberries vocalist Eric Carmen.
You can see it for yourself below.
How to win the Internet in one video.
George Santos feeling a bit lonely... sitting 🎶All by myself🎶#AllByMyself pic.twitter.com/BmPo3LdJoF
— Terrence Daniels (Captain 🍀 Planet) (@Terrence_STR) January 4, 2023
The video adds a much needed dose of humor to the evolving scandal around Santos, who recently admitted to “embellishing” his résumé following an extensive investigation by The New York Times that exposed multiple lies he told about his life story.
And Twitter users couldn't get enough of it.
\u201cJust spit our coffee out laughing at this! \ud83d\ude02\nhttps://t.co/7mb7Wew95V\u201d— MadDogPAC (@MadDogPAC) 1672846091
\u201cI\u2019m dead. There are some crazy brilliant people on Twitter!\u201d— k8tracy \u262e\ufe0f (@k8tracy \u262e\ufe0f) 1672848498
\u201cI love this!!!\u201d— Whiskey Tango Foxtrot America (@Whiskey Tango Foxtrot America) 1672844902
\u201cAnother genius at work \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\u201d— um no not just Amy\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 I stand with Ukraine\ud83c\udf3b (@um no not just Amy\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 I stand with Ukraine\ud83c\udf3b) 1672835181
\u201cThis app is the gift that keeps on giving.\u201d— Chief White House Ice Cream Correspondent (@Chief White House Ice Cream Correspondent) 1672842635
\u201cA modern day classic!\u201d— Sunny "Burl" Daze (@Sunny "Burl" Daze) 1672840846
\u201cWho ever did this should run for Speaker.\u201d— Irish Democrat\u2122\ufe0f (@Irish Democrat\u2122\ufe0f) 1672855354
Santos—who is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation—had earlier fessed up to at least some of his lies in an interview with The New York Post.
Santos told the Rupert Murdoch owned conservative tabloid he is “embarrassed” by his false and misleading statements but that he nonetheless believes he will be an “effective” House Republican in the new Congress even as questions remain about his education, work history, and even his source of income.
As more of Santos' lies continue to be exposed—subsequent New York Times investigations have unearthed possible campaign finance violations due to suspicious expenditures listed on his campaign disclosures—Republicans have largely denounced him and Santos told New York GOP officials he does not plan to run for reelection in 2024.
