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By Gabe Whisnant
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House Speaker Mike Johnson has a simple piece of advice for his Democratic counterpart when President Donald Trump posts doctored videos of him wearing a sombrero: “Just ignore it.”
Trump’s decision to share the videos of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has become a subplot in the ongoing government shutdown fight. Jeffries, a New York Democrat, has called the videos “racist” and challenged Trump to confront him directly.
Johnson said Thursday, "Many of you asked me this morning about sombreros and memes and why Hakeem Jeffries is all alarmed by that. Look, these are games, these are sideshows, people are getting caught up in battles over social media memes ... to my friend Hakeem, man, just ignore it."
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Why It Matters
Johnson’s response reflects his effort to balance loyalty to Trump with the need to work with Jeffries to keep the House functioning. The Louisiana Republican, known for his mild manner, has repeatedly urged lawmakers to tone down their rhetoric when debates grow heated.
The video episode adds a combustible element to negotiations already strained by partisan divisions over federal spending.
What To Know
The White House said on Wednesday that AI videos and memes depicting Democrat leaders in sombreros "will continue" until the United States government has reopened.
Mike Johnson: "Many of you asked me this morning about sombreros and memes and why Hakeem Jeffries is all alarmed by that. Look, these are games, these are sideshows, people are getting caught up in battles over social media memes ... to my friend Hakeem, man, just ignore it." pic.twitter.com/soJh06W2Nu
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 2, 2025
With a shutdown deadline approaching, Democrats argue the controversy illustrates how Trump continues to wield influence over Republican strategy from outside Washington. Some lawmakers warn that such distractions make it harder to find common ground on the substance of funding bills.
Behind the scenes, Johnson has been working to corral his conference around a plan that could pass both chambers and avoid a prolonged closure of government services. But Trump’s intervention, particularly through the use of provocative AI-generated content, underscores how even symbolic skirmishes can complicate the task of brokering deals in a narrowly divided Congress.
Jeffries and his allies have sought to use the moment to highlight concerns about artificial intelligence in politics, pointing to the potential for manipulated media to inflame tensions and spread harmful stereotypes. Several Democrats renewed calls for clearer regulations on AI-generated content, warning that the technology could become a destabilizing force in elections if left unchecked.
Republicans, meanwhile, face their own internal divisions. While some members echo Johnson’s call for civility, others view Trump’s hard-edged tactics as an effective way to keep the focus on cultural battles rather than policy details. That split reflects the broader struggle within the GOP over how closely to align with Trump as the 2024 campaign season intensifies.
The standoff also illustrates the contrasting leadership styles of the two men at the center of the dispute. Jeffries has positioned himself as a sharp counterweight to Trump, while Johnson has attempted to present himself as a facilitator capable of bridging divides. Whether those approaches can coexist in the tense atmosphere of shutdown negotiations remains an open question.
For now, the focus on the video has shifted attention away from the granular details of the budget talks — such as disputes over defense spending and border security — and toward broader concerns about tone, trust, and the role of technology in political discourse. Lawmakers on both sides acknowledge that every flare-up further narrows the path to compromise.
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What People Are Saying
The Hispanic Federation, the Latino Victory Foundation, League of United American Citizens, Mi Familia Vota, UnidosUs and Voto Latino issued a joint statement about Trump's AI videos and memes: “Targeting the Latino community is not only irresponsible — it is reprehensible and beneath the office of the presidency,” the joint statement said. “The troubling use of AI to amplify hateful stereotypes is not only reckless, but it serves as an act of disinformation designed to further stigmatize Latinos when the tensions facing the community driven by policy and rhetoric are at an all-time high.”
White House Deputy Communications Kaelan Dorr said in a post on X sharing a video of Jeffries that was previously shared during a White House press briefing Wednesday: “The sombreros will continue until the government reopens."
What Happens Next
As the clock ticks toward another fiscal cliff, the clash over Trump’s AI video of Jeffries serves as both a sideshow and a symbol of the broader dysfunction gripping Washington. It encapsulates how personal attacks and emerging technologies can seep into the core of legislative battles, raising doubts about whether Congress can meet its most basic obligation: keeping the government open.
Updates: 10/2/25, 12:04 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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