House Speaker Mike Johnson has been recorded criticizing the strange AI-generated video that President Donald Trump posted in a confrontation with Democrats.
Johnson was challenged by Pennsylvania Rep. Madeleine Dean on Tuesday over countless concerns, including video, but it was the House Speaker's response to the AI-generated footage that raised his eyebrows.
“It wasn't my style,” Johnson can be heard telling Dean in footage posted on CNN's Manuraju's social media.
“Not your style? That's dishonor. It's racist. You should call it,” replied Dean.
When Johnson returned to the office, CNN reports to Dean repeatedly. “I'm working on that. Personally, it's not my style. I love you and I respect you?”
“That's why I'm talking to you,” replied Dean.
The Daily Beast contacted Johnson's office and the White House for comments.
The video features Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries by the president posted on Social Truth on Monday. When Mariachi's music plays in the background, the AI-edited pair speaks to the media. The president uploaded footage after Trump hosted the pair at a meeting in an oval office.
“Look, guys, there's no way to sugarcoat it. There's no more Democrats like it anymore. All of us have awakened, so there's no voters left.
“Even black people don't want to vote for us. Even Latinos hate us. So we need new voters. And if we give all these illegal aliens free health care, we might be able to take them to our side so they can vote for us,” he continues. “They can't even speak English, so they don't realize that we are a bundle of s that we've awakened – do you know? They learn English and realize they hate us.”
Talked to Raju after the conflict, Dean gave more of his conversation with Johnson.
“He rhetorically asked me, 'Is that really racist?' It's really racist, it's mean and he should have called it. He said he hadn't seen it,” she said.
In the video posted by Notus, Johnson can ask, “Are you racist?” and hear some of the exchange. And Dean said, “Is it racist? Did you place the sombrero on the black man who is the leader of the house? Don't you think it's racist?”
“We need you to lead desperately,” Dean begged Johnson.
Johnson appeared to be backtracking the conflict Tuesday night with CNN host Kaitlan Collins.
“I'm a home speaker, so I represent Republicans and Democrats in that ability and I always hear complaints and concerns from members. I always stop listening and I did that for Madeleine Dean.
“We don't agree with any policy issues. She was worried about the president's social media post. He meant he was a joke and talked about it. I didn't agree with her perspective on that, but I tried to get her back to the real issue, but tonight's fight is not a social media post.
Dean confronted Johnson publicly in June after California Sen. Alex Padilla was handcuffed and forced to remove him from a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem.
Trump's backlash against AI video has been swift, with Collins facing senior Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in a clip on Monday night.
“The president couldn't say, 'These demands are ridiculous.' And he didn't post any video of Hakeem Jeffries wearing Sombrero. And all you know is you're talking to Senator Schumer about color and immigrants? asked Collins.
“Look, I think the president can play with the press, like a little boy or a flashlight and a dog,” Marshall replied. “He's shining his flashlight here, and he's shining there.”
The President's post came just a few days after he posted, and later deleted another AI-generated video promoting “Medbed.” Medbeds do not exist, but far-right conspiracy theorists believe the federal government has access to these therapeutic devices, and liberals of power protect them from the public.
