President Donald Trump posted another deepfake AI-generated video of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Tuesday hours before the federal government is expected to shut down, further signaling the significant divide between the two parties.
On Monday, Trump posted a vulgar AI-generated video of Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaking outside the White House. The video portrayed Jeffries wearing a mustache and a sombrero while mariachi music plays in the background.
Jeffries condemned the deepfake as “bigotry” in a social media response and called it a “disgusting video” in an MSNBC interview later Monday evening.
On Tuesday, Trump shared a clip of Jeffries’ MSNBC interview criticizing the original video, again adding an AI-generated mustache and sombrero. The latest video features four depictions of the president playing mariachi music as Jeffries speaks.
Trump’s repeated antagonization of Jeffries sets the tone for what may be difficult and drawn-out negotiations over a government-funding solution as lawmakers on both sides continue to dig into their positions.
During a House Democratic conference presser on Tuesday, Jeffries dared Trump to confront him personally rather than “cop out” through the AI-generated videos.
Later, in an interview on MSNBC, Jeffries sought to downplay the videos.
“We need from the president of the United States an individual who actually is focused on doing his job, as opposed to engaging in racist or bigoted stereotypes designed to try to distract or throw us off as Democrats from what we need to do on behalf of the American people,” Jeffries said.
Trump also posted several photos of his Oval Office meeting on Monday with Jeffries, Schumer, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson. Two images shared by Trump show the four Congressional leaders in conversation. A third shows Trump pointing at Jeffries with a sneer. All three images feature “Trump 2028” hats on the president’s desk.
The government is expected to shut down just after 12 a.m. Wednesday.
