Hours before the government shutdown, President Donald Trump posted Hakeem Jeffries, a minority leader who laughs at another vulgar, racist AI correction video.
The federal agency is expected to begin closure after passing a suspended spending bill promoted by Republicans since midnight after a failed Senate vote late Tuesday.
Most Democrats have refused to support such a bill without meeting the demand for Medicaid cuts set out earlier this year with an extension of Trump's “big and beautiful, bill” and Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Republicans argue that Democrats are trying to fund healthcare for undocumented immigrants, despite the group not qualifying for the federal health program.
On Monday, Trump posted a deepfake clip of Jeffries wearing a sombrero and a handlebar mustache as he stood alongside Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer.
Mariachi's music was played in the background as Deepfake Schumer said “No one likes Democrats anymore.”
Jeffries denounced the video, telling MSNBC that the clip was “a malicious distraction from people who have decided to continue to tear health care.”
Trump then incited the flames Tuesday night with another AI-modified video from Jeffries on True Social. It starts with an actual interview clip where Jeffries calls the first Deep Fark “snarky.”
“Prejudice won't go anywhere,” Jeffries told MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell. An AI-generated Maria Chi band has been added to the background, with all members playing cards faces and signed blue suits and red tie.
CNN's Abby Phillip mentioned the new clip in an interview with Jeffries Tuesday night, asking if he believes Trump is someone who wants to negotiate his spending plan “in good faith.”
“He's an eerie individual. Republicans are unstable at this point. They're not interested in having a good-intentional conversation, and all the unstable, unscathed behaviour we've seen should be suggested to Americans who are actually trying to turn us towards government shutdowns,” Jeffries said.
Independence We contacted the White House for comment.
