On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance responded to criticism surrounding President Donald Trump's recent post of an AI-generated video featuring House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The video humorously portrays Jeffries with a fake mustache and a sombrero, prompting a wave of backlash. During the White House's daily briefing, Vance dismissed the outrage, labeling the deepfake video as merely a joke. "Oh, I think it's funny," Vance stated while laughing. "The President's joking, and we're having a good time," he added.
Vance emphasized the importance of humor in political discourse, suggesting that it is possible to "negotiate in good faith" while also engaging in lighthearted banter about the perceived "absurdities" of the Democratic Party. Trump's video was posted on his social media platform shortly after a meeting where Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer conferred with Trump, Vance, and other Republican congressional leaders in an effort to avert a government shutdown. The video also features audio of Schumer making disparaging remarks about his party.
Continuing the playful banter, Vance made a promise to Jeffries: "I make the solemn promise to you that if you help us reopen the government, the sombrero memes will stop," he joked. However, Jeffries did not find the humor in the situation, labeling the video as racist during a rally on the House steps the following day. He stated, "Mr. President, the next time you have something to say about me, don't cop out through a racist and fake AI video. When I'm back in the Oval Office, say it to my face."
In response to Jeffries' claims, Vance expressed confusion. "Hakeem Jeffries said it was racist, and I know that he said that. And I honestly don't even know what that means," Vance told reporters. He questioned whether Jeffries, being a Mexican-American, could genuinely be offended by a "sombrero meme."
While Jeffries continued to criticize Trump, Vance, and the Republican Party regarding the looming government shutdown, he refrained from addressing the deepfake video or Vance's remarks during his press briefing. Jeffries accused the President and Republicans of engaging in "irresponsible and unserious behavior," asserting that they had long intended to shut down the government.
The controversy surrounding the Jeffries and Schumer deepfake video was not the only topic discussed in the briefing. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was also questioned about another AI-generated video that Trump posted on Sunday. This video appeared to present Trump and his daughter-in-law Lara Trump in a fabricated news report promoting "medbeds," a conspiracy theory linked to the QAnon movement. This theory falsely claims that elite groups possess access to miraculous cure-all beds, which they are withholding from the public. The controversial post was subsequently deleted.
When asked about the reasons behind Trump sharing the video, Leavitt responded, "He likes to share memes. He likes to share videos; he likes to repost things that he sees other people post on social media as well. And I think it's quite refreshing that we have a President who is so open and honest directly," she stated.
As the political landscape continues to shift, the intersection of humor, media, and political discourse remains a hot topic. The reactions to Trump's AI-generated video and Vance's lighthearted defense highlight the deep divisions in American politics today.
