US EditionTrump Uses Shutdown to Troll Democrats with Deepfake Memes, Threatening Targeted Cuts
The White House framed Trump’s sombrero memes as political trolling during shutdown talks, with Vice President J.D. Vance stating memes will stop if Democrats help reopen government.
- Wednesday, the White House played meme videos on loop in the White House Press Briefing Room, showing AI-created clips of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries with a sombrero.
- The episode began after a failed White House meeting between President Donald Trump and congressional leaders, with Trump mocking Democrats' immigration debate as voter-replacement strategy.
- Broad media reaction noted both the imagery and the deepfake audio content, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and outlets including USA Today, CNN and The Independent calling the videos `racist` and highlighting an AI-generated deepfake voice using vulgarities and discussing free health care for migrants.
- The controversy shifted attention from budget details and could affect shutdown negotiations, as Democrats say it diverts focus while Vice President J.D. Vance urged reopening the government to stop the memes.
- Amid concerns about AI, Democrats pressed for clearer rules on manipulated media while the White House signaled sombrero memes `will continue` until the government reopens.
24 Articles
24 Articles
MyCentralOregon.com
Trump uses shutdown to troll Democrats with deepfake memes, threatening targeted cuts
Win McNamee/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump has continued to use social media to troll Democrats and threaten targeted cuts with two deepfake videos featuring Project 2025’s co-author and another mocking House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. In one post late Thursday, the president posted an AI-generated video depicting Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought as the “Grim Reaper” while the administration threaten…
'Schumer siesta': Trump reshares comedian in sombrero video hinting at 2028 run
President Donald Trump Friday shared a video from a comedian posing as the president wearing a sombrero with a Trump 2028 hat on top, bright poncho and referring to the government shutdown as the "Schumer siesta" and referring to Hakeem Jeffries as "Dollar Store Obama." Shawn Farash, who also calls...
Hakeem Jeffries: President’s ‘Erratic Behavior’ Proves He’s ‘Unserious’ About Ending ‘Trump-Republican’ Shutdown
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'Your mama didn't raise you like that': Steele shreds MAGA for cheering racist Trump video
President Donald Trump is continuing to double down on an AI-created video posted to official White House social media channels that has been widely panned as racist. And one former Republican Party leader is chastising his fellow conservatives for egging it on.The video in question shows House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) standing outside of the White House earlier this week. Jeffrie…
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