As the Trump administration continues government shutdown negotiations, racist deepfake videos mocking Democratic leaders played on a loop in the White House briefing room on Wednesday.
The videos, posted by Trump on his social media platform Monday, used fabricated audio and visuals to make it appear that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Democrats “woke pieces of shit” and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wore a fake mustache and sombrero.
Vice President JD Vance commented on the clips during a briefing, calling them “funny” and joking that the “sombrero memes” would stop if Democrats helped reopen the government. Vance said, “I’ll tell Hakeem Jeffries right now, I make the solemn promise to you that if you help us reopen the government, the sombrero memes will stop. I’ve talked to the president of the United States about that.”
Jeffries denounced the memes as racist. Vance responded dismissively, questioning whether Jeffries was offended due to his heritage. Both clips, set to Mexican mariachi music, were intended to reinforce the administration’s false claim that Democrats were seeking health insurance subsidies for undocumented immigrants as a condition to fund the federal government.
In reality, Democrats aim to ensure subsidies under the Affordable Care Act reach Americans who rely on them for health insurance. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for these benefits. Democrats also seek to reverse a provision of the Republican tax and spending bill that removed health benefits for lawfully present immigrants, including refugees and those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
The fabricated words attributed to Schumer feed into a far-right conspiracy theory, known as the “great replacement,” which falsely claims Democrats want to use immigration to replace white voters with immigrants who would support the party. This theory has been cited by perpetrators of several racist mass shootings, including the 2019 Walmart shooting in El Paso, Texas, and the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue attack in Pittsburgh. It also motivated white supremacist chants during the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Following Jeffries’ condemnation of the first video, Trump posted a second clip showing the congressman calling the video “disgusting.” The altered visuals, including the sombrero and mustache, were again paired with a mariachi band featuring multiple images of Trump.
Critics say the videos spread misinformation while targeting minority lawmakers, highlighting concerns about deepfake technology being used for political attacks. Observers also note the potential harm such content can have on public trust, civil discourse, and the safety of political figures.
The use of deepfakes in government communications has raised questions about the limits of satire, misinformation, and responsible leadership. Experts warn that such videos, when combined with false narratives, can amplify racist and extremist rhetoric while undermining democratic norms.
The controversy adds another layer to the ongoing debates over the government shutdown, false claims in political messaging, and the ethical use of digital media in politics. While the Trump administration frames the clips as humor, opponents argue they reinforce harmful stereotypes and encourage divisive narratives.
