On Thursday, former President Trump shared an AI-generated video on social media showcasing him tossing a “Trump 2028” hat at House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
The clip features a slow-motion scene of Trump, sitting behind an Oval Office desk, throwing his hat, which lands on Jeffries’ head. It wraps up with laughter from Trump’s supporters accompanied by the song “YMCA,” adding a playful tone likely tied to his political campaign.
This post seems to draw from earlier images that Trump shared on Truth Social, depicting a meeting with Jeffries, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.). In a photo, a “Trump 2028” hat is seen in front of both Jeffries and Schumer.
Interestingly, Jeffries mentioned to CNN that Trump hadn’t actually given him or Schumer any hats; he just happened to catch one randomly on the desk during their meeting.
“It was the strangest thing I’ve ever done,” Jeffries remarked. “I turned to [Vice President] JD Vance, who was to my left, and asked if he had any issues with it. He simply replied, ‘No comments.’ And that ended that.”
While the Constitution prevents a president from serving a third term, Trump has often entertained the idea of a potential run.
This AI-generated video quickly became the focal point of discussions around the current government shutdown. Since the shutdowns began, both Democrats and Republicans have been exchanging AI-produced videos and memes, poking fun at each other.
Trump also shared a video showing Jeffries adorned with an exaggerated handlebar mustache and sombrero. Some criticized this as racist, particularly various Latino advocacy groups, who expressed their concerns on Thursday.
Vice President Vance and Speaker Johnson defended Trump’s video. Johnson presented it at a press conference, labeling it as a “game” and a “sideshow.”
“Yeah, I think it’s funny,” Vance told reporters the following day. “The president’s just joking around, and we’re having a good time.” Meanwhile, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) responded with a video of his own, showing all 44 Senate Democrats wearing sombreros and mustaches, set to a humorous rendition of “Macarena” in a voice reminiscent of Trump.
