By Anna Commander

Copyright newsweek

The White House said on Wednesday that AI videos and memes depicting Democrat leaders in sombreros “will continue” until the United States government has reopened.

Newsweek reached out to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office via email for comment.

Screens can be seen displaying 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, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Why It Matters

The escalating use of AI-generated memes in political discourse became a focal point after President Donald Trump continued to share altered images of Democratic leaders during delicate budget negotiations. These posts coincided with the onset of a government shutdown, impacting federal agencies and workers nationwide.

The controversy highlights the role of social media and digital satire in shaping perceptions during high-stakes political standoffs, with both parties accusing each other of bad faith and bigotry as essential public services are disrupted.

What To Know

The U.S. government entered a shutdown after Congress failed to pass a funding resolution before the September 30, 2025, midnight deadline.

The deadlock resulted from unresolved disputes over health care provisions, particularly whether to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies in the budget bill.

As the shutdown loomed, President Trump posted AI-altered videos on social media, showing House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a sombrero and mustache, and Schumer in similar satirical depictions. In these memes, digitally generated voices parodied Democratic positions on health care and immigration.

Republicans have argued over what they characterized as Democratic demands for funding health care benefits for undocumented immigrants.

In a post on X on Wednesday, White House Deputy Communications Director Kaelan Dorr said, “The sombreros will continue until the government reopens” while posting an AI video of Jeffries that the president previously shared, which played during the White House press briefing on Wednesday.

Jeffries called out the president’s videos as “racist” earlier this week, and Vice President Vance reacted to those remarks during the press briefing.

“Hakeem Jeffries said it was racist, and I know that he said that, and I honestly don’t even know what that means,” Vance said. “Like, is he a Mexican American that is offended by having a sombrero meme?” The Vice President also said that the president “likes to have a little bit of fun.”

VP Vance on President Trump’s sombrero meme: “Hakeem Jeffries said it was racist, and I know that he said that, and I honestly don’t even know what that means.“Like, is he a Mexican-American that is offended by having a sombrero meme?” pic.twitter.com/wdxbj3Cqic— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) October 1, 2025

What People Are Saying

Former Fox News host Geraldo Rivera on X on Wednesday: “Trump’s juvenile joke ridiculing Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries with sombrero and mustache is racist/funny. The disrespectful mockery will just add to bitterness that closed the government. Instead of lamenting bad taste, Jeffries should retaliate with trumpy memes of his own.”

Jeffries on X on Wednesday: “JD Vance thinks we will surrender to the Republican effort to gut healthcare because of a Sombrero meme. Not happening Bro.”

What Happens Next

The government shutdown, which began at midnight October 1, is expected to continue until bipartisan agreement is reached on a funding package. Both parties have remained publicly entrenched in their positions, with no compromise immediately in sight.

This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.