A Democratic lawmaker called on House Speaker Mike Johnson to challenge as racist an artificial intelligence (AI) video that President Donald Trump posted on social media in which Democratic leaders were mocked, featuring House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a sombrero and mustache.
The video repeated a Republican attack line that Democrats will shut down the government if they can’t secure free health care for illegal immigrants. Democrats deny the accusation.
Why It Matters
The U.S. is on the brink of a government shutdown after high-stakes negotiations at the White House between Trump and congressional leaders ended in a stalemate.
Issues around social media, respect between political rivals and free speech have been highlighted by the assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder and CEO Charlie Kirk on September 10.
What To Know
As Democratic U.S. Representative Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania spoke with Johnson Tuesday outside the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol, the congresswoman asked the speaker his thoughts on the video that Trump posted to his Truth Social platform.
“It’s not my style,” Johnson responded, as seen in a video clip of their exchange posted on X.
“Not your style? It’s disgraceful, it’s bigoted, it’s racist. You should call it out,” Dean said.
Dean continued: “Is it racist? You put a sombrero on a Black man who is the leader of the House. You don’t see that as racist? We need you desperately to lead,” Dean said, adding: “That’s why I’m talking to you. You have a great opportunity to lead.”
“I’m working on it,” Johnson answered.
Earlier, Jeffries, in reaction to the AI video, wrote to X: “Bigotry will get you nowhere. Cancel the Cuts. Lower the Cost. Save Healthcare. We are NOT backing down.”
In the AI video, Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is shown talking as he stands with Jeffries, complaining about how “nobody likes Democrats anymore … if we give all these illegal aliens free health care, we might be able to get them on our side so they can vote for us.”
The real Schumer responded with his own social media comment, saying on X: “If you think your shutdown is a joke, it just proves what we all know: You can’t negotiate. You can only throw tantrums.”
The government funding dispute largely centers on whether to include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies in the spending bill. Democrats say health care protections must be preserved, while Republicans say that funding and policy should be handled separately.
What People Are Saying
Jeffries, in an appearance on MSNBC: “It’s a disgusting video and we’re going to continue to make clear bigotry will get you nowhere. We are fighting to protect the health care of the American people in the face of an unprecedented Republican assault on all the things—Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act.”
Johnson, in an interview with CNN on Monday: “Chuck Schumer … wants to reinstate free health care for illegal aliens paid by American taxpayers. We are not doing that. We can’t do that.”
What Happens Next
The U.S. government looks poised to shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, which would trigger widespread disruption to federal operations and could imperil the income and benefits of thousands of government workers, along with services.