Vice President JD Vance announced on Wednesday that a meme featuring President Donald Trump’s minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), wearing a sombrero would continue until the Democrats agree to fund the government.
Recently, Trump has shared several memes of Jeffries online, showcasing an edited video of the minority leader donned in a sombrero. Trump and other Republicans have voiced strong criticisms concerning the Democrats’ demands for government funding, particularly after Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) confirmed on Tuesday that a healthcare plan for undocumented immigrants was part of the negotiations. Despite attempts from House Republicans to pass a clean continuing resolution, funding expired early Wednesday morning. Ultimately, Senate Democrats obstructed the proposed suspension of funding.
During a White House press briefing on Wednesday, Vance, who was addressing reporters, noted that the memes would persist until the government was reopened by the Democrats.
“If you’re trying to have a genuine conversation with him, would posting pictures of Leader Jeffries in a sombrero help?” a reporter inquired.
“Honestly, I think it’s funny,” Vance stated. “The president is joking, and we’re enjoying ourselves. You can negotiate seriously while still acknowledging some of the absurdities from the Democrats’ side.”
“And, frankly, I find the antics of the Democrats amusing. So, here’s my promise to Hakeem Jeffries: if you facilitate reopening the government, I assure you the sombrero meme will cease,” he added.
Trump’s initial meme surfaced on Monday evening after Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) held a meeting at the White House regarding government funding. These AI-heavy memes playfully targeted Schumer and Jeffries during their press conference outside the West Wing, featuring edited speech and cartoon elements like a mustache and sombrero on Jeffries.
Following up with another AI-generated post on Tuesday, Trump released an edited clip of an interview featuring Jeffries and MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, incorporating visuals of AI-generated playing cards in a Mariachi band that added a sombrero and mustache to Jeffries.
