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2h ago

White House Loops AI Videos Targeting Jeffries as Vance Says They’ll End If Democrats Help Reopen Government

Democrats denounce the clips as racist during a shutdown standoff.

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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

  • Vice President JD Vance called the AI videos “funny” and pledged the “sombrero memes will stop” if Hakeem Jeffries helps pass a measure to reopen the government.
  • The White House replayed the clips on screens in the briefing room on the first day of the shutdown, highlighting the administration’s defense of the posts.
  • One video superimposed a sombrero and mustache onto Jeffries, while another used fabricated audio of Chuck Schumer making derogatory remarks about immigrants over mariachi music.
  • Jeffries labeled the posts racist and bigoted, and Schumer castigated the tactic as childish, saying it undercuts negotiations.
  • Talks remain stalled as the shutdown enters its second day, with Republicans needing Democratic votes to reach 60 in the Senate and disputes persisting over healthcare subsidies and claims Democrats reject about benefits for undocumented immigrants.