Trump Uses AI and 2028 Hats to Troll Democrats
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., right, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speak to members of the media outside the West Wing at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
As the nation faced a potential government shutdown, former President Donald Trump employed a series of provocative tactics aimed at unsettling Democratic leaders during high-stakes negotiations.
The AI-Generated Sombrero Videos
With less than an hour before the shutdown deadline, Trump escalated his trolling by posting an altered video clip. The clip featured House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaking during an interview on MSNBC. Using AI, the video was modified to depict Jeffries with a sombrero and mustache, while figures resembling Trump played mariachi music in the background.
This was not the first such video. Two days earlier, Trump had shared a different fake video using footage from a real press conference with Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. In that altered clip, a voiceover mimicking Schumer made fun of Democrats while Jeffries was shown with a cartoon sombrero and mustache, all set to Mexican music.
A Strange Interruption The 2028 Hats
Beyond the digital provocations, Trump brought his trolling directly into the negotiation room. During a meeting with Schumer and Jeffries, the former president had “Trump 2028″ hats placed on display.
Jeffries later described the moment as strange, recounting how the hats “just randomly appeared in the middle of the meeting on the desk.” He recalled looking at Vice President JD Vance, who was seated nearby, and asking, “Don’t you got a problem with this?” to which Vance reportedly replied, “No comment.”
Democrats Condemn Racist and Childish Trolling
The tactics drew sharp condemnation from the Democratic leaders. At a news conference, Jeffries labeled the AI-generated content a “racist and fake AI video.” He directly challenged Trump, stating, “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. Say it to my face.”
Schumer criticized Trump’s behavior as juvenile, especially given the gravity of the impending shutdown. He remarked that Trump was trolling on the internet “like a 10-year-old,” adding, “It’s only the president who can do this. We know he runs the show here.”
Vance Questions Racism Accusation
In response to the controversy, Vice President JD Vance told reporters he didn’t understand why Jeffries, who is Black, characterized the video as racist. “Like, is he a Mexican-American that is offended?” Vance questioned.
