While the federal government remains shut down, President Trump and his Republican allies are spending their time online — posting AI-generated videos of Democrats in sombreros and mustaches set to mariachi music, a move that’s drawing fire from all sides. The White House, instead of backing off amid criticism, says the posts will continue until Democrats agree to reopen the government.
So far, Trump has shared two AI-generated videos this week alone. One features House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a sombrero and mustache, side by side with a doctored version of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. A dubbed voice claims Democrats are only pushing health care for undocumented immigrants because “nobody likes Democrats anymore.”
Asked about the videos, a White House spokesperson told Axios: “The sombreros will continue until the Democrats reopen the government.”
That’s the level of discourse coming from the executive branch during a federal shutdown.
Not to be outdone, Sen. Ted Cruz posted his own version on Wednesday night, editing all 44 Senate Democrats who voted against a short-term spending bill into sombreros and mustaches while a parody version of the “Macarena” plays in the background.
The goal, according to Republicans, is to mock Democrats for allegedly prioritizing immigrants over reopening the government. The method? Racial caricatures and fake AI memes.
The response from Democrats was swift.
“Mr. President, the next time you have something to say about me, don’t cop out through a racist and fake AI video,” said Jeffries. “When I’m back in the Oval Office, say it to my face.”
Schumer addressed the video on the Senate floor, accusing Trump of acting like a child: “Busy trolling away on the internet like a 10-year-old.”
Meanwhile, back in reality, the government is closed. Federal workers are furloughed or unpaid, and agencies are scaling back operations — but the top priority for GOP leaders appears to be generating racially charged content for social media.
Latino leaders aren’t laughing either.
Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens, slammed the videos for weaponizing harmful stereotypes. “In the American use of [the sombrero], it has really been used as a caricature, to paint Mexicans as lazy,” he said. “When it’s used inappropriately to demean an entire community, it’s racist.”
A coalition led by Voto Latino issued a statement calling the videos “dangerous” and “reckless.” They warned that using AI to spread ethnic stereotypes, especially during a shutdown, is an attempt to “stigmatize Latinos” and distract from actual policy failures.
Even some within the GOP appeared mildly uncomfortable — though not enough to condemn the behavior.
Speaker Mike Johnson said the video “wasn’t my style,” but told reporters that Jeffries should just “ignore the sideshow.”
“People are getting caught up in battles over social media memes. This is not a game,” Johnson added — without addressing the fact that the president and his allies are the ones posting the memes.
Vice President J.D. Vance, however, made it clear the party has no intention of backing down.
“You can negotiate in good faith while poking fun at some of the absurdities of the Democrats’ positions,” Vance said. “And poking fun at the absurdity of the Democrats themselves.”
But where’s the so-called absurdity? Democrats are trying to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits — the ones set to expire at the end of the year, which could cause premiums to spike for millions of Americans if nothing is done.
The holdup? Republicans are blocking the extension. And instead of engaging seriously, the GOP is leaning on AI gimmicks and cultural mockery, calling it an “immigrant giveaway” and pinning the blame on Democrats.
An aide to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus summed it up best: “I encourage Republicans to keep doing this, because it just shows the American people who they are.”
At this point, it’s not clear when the government will reopen. What is clear, according to the White House, is that the racist memes are here to stay — at least until Republicans get their way.
Because apparently, shutting down the country wasn’t enough. Now it’s sombreros and memes… until further notice.
