By Yuvraj Tyagi
Copyright timesnownews
President Donald Trump’s AI-generated deepfake videos of top Democratic leaders have ignited a heated debate over tone and decorum in politics. This week, Trump shared a video showing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaking to reporters, with fake audio claiming Democrats “have no voters anymore, because of our woke, trans bull**it” and making references to health care for undocumented immigrants. In one video, Jeffries is depicted wearing a sombrero while mariachi music plays — a meme many critics have described as crude and racially insensitive. Hakeem Jeffries condemned the videos, calling them “racist” and “bigoted,” and urged Trump to focus on governing rather than posting offensive content. Schumer echoed the criticism, stating: “If you think your shutdown is a joke, it just proves what we all know: You can’t negotiate. You can only throw tantrums.” JD Vance Defends the Memes Vice President JD Vance, speaking to reporters at the White House briefing room on Wednesday, brushed off the videos as humorous. “I think it’s funny. The president is joking and having a good time,” Vance said, adding that satire and political commentary can coexist with negotiations. Vance further promised that if Democrats assist in reopening the government, the sombrero memes would cease, claiming he had already discussed the matter with the president. Vance also downplayed concerns over the potential racial insensitivity, saying, “Is he a Mexican American that is offended by having a sombrero meme? Give the country a little credit. We are all trying to do a very important job for the American people.” Political Fallout and Reactions The incident comes amid ongoing Republican-led efforts to influence government shutdown negotiations. Critics argue the memes undermine civility and distract from pressing legislative issues, while supporters defend them as political satire. Social media reactions have been polarized, with some laughing at the absurdity and others condemning the posts as offensive and harmful. This controversy highlights the growing role of AI-generated content in political discourse and the deep divisions over how far satire and memes can go in Washington politics. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.
