Particle.news
Download on the App Store
33 ARTICLES
·
1h ago

Vance Ties End of Trump’s ‘Sombrero’ Memes to Shutdown Deal as White House Loops AI Clips

Republicans need Democratic votes in the Senate to pass funding, turning the meme dispute into a leverage play during the shutdown.

Image
Image
Image
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: Screens display AI-modified videos of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that were shared on social media by President Donald Trump in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on October 01, 2025 in Washington, DC. Vice President JD Vance dismissed criticism of the posts in today's daily press briefing, adding, "I'll tell Hakeem Jeffries right now, I make this solemn promise to you, that if you help us reopen the government, the sombrero memes will stop." (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Overview

  • The federal government entered a shutdown on Oct. 1 after Congress missed the funding deadline, and negotiators have not reached a compromise.
  • President Trump shared AI-altered videos depicting Hakeem Jeffries in a sombrero and mustache with mariachi music and a separate clip with fabricated audio of Chuck Schumer.
  • At a White House briefing, Vice President JD Vance called the videos a joke and offered a “solemn promise” that the memes would stop if Jeffries helps reopen the government.
  • Democrats, including Jeffries and Schumer, denounced the material as racist or bigoted, saying the posts undercut serious talks on funding.
  • The White House played the clips on loop in the briefing room, with a spokeswoman signaling the memes would continue until Democrats agree to reopen the government; Senate rules requiring 60 votes mean a bipartisan deal is still necessary.