JD Vance Defends Trump's AI-Altered Videos of Hakeem Jeffries Amid Government Shutdown Tensions

AI generated image of Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer shared by Trump

US Vice President JD Vance characterized AI-manipulated videos of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries posted by President Donald Trump on social media as merely a joke during a Wednesday press briefing, dismissing Democratic accusations of racism.

The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of the first day of a government shutdown, with Trump at odds with Democratic leadership over budget negotiations.

On Monday, Trump shared a modified clip on his Truth Social platform showing Jeffries speaking outside the White House, with digitally added elements including a handlebar mustache and sombrero, accompanied by Mariachi music. Notably, Jeffries is Black and his mother has ancestry from Cape Verde.

Following Jeffries' condemnation of the post as "disgusting" during an MSNBC interview, Trump responded by posting another altered video from that very interview, again featuring the same mustache and sombrero additions. The White House later displayed the clip on large screens in the press briefing room on Wednesday.

"I think it's funny. The president's joking and we're having a good time," Vance stated during a White House press conference when questioned about how these images aligned with the administration's claims of willingness to negotiate with Democratic leaders in good faith.

Vance continued, "You can negotiate in good faith while also poking a little bit of fun at some of the absurdities of the Democrats' positions, and even, you know, poking some fun at the absurdity of the Democrats themselves."

Jeffries and several high-ranking Democratic officials have denounced the images as racist and bigoted. Throughout his political career, Trump has been criticized for employing xenophobic, racist, or sexist rhetoric on multiple occasions.