President Trump and other Republican officials are spreading videos of Democrats wearing sombreros and handlebar mustaches on social media, prompting backlash from across the aisle.
Why it matters: The references to Latino culture allude to Republican claims that Democrats shut down the government to fund health care for undocumented immigrants, an allegation that party leaders have denied.
- Democrats have said they want to extend the Affordable Care Act's tax credits, which could cause premiums to skyrocket if they expire at the end of the year.
- Both Democratic leadership and rank-and-file members have called the posts "racist."
Driving the news: Trump has posted two different AI-generated videos this week of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) in a sombrero and mustache, set to mariachi music.
- In one of the videos, Jeffries is pictured next to an AI version of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) whose dubbed voice claims that "nobody likes Democrats anymore," and that's why the party is pushing to give undocumented immigrants "free health care."
- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) piled on to the trend Wednesday night, posting a video on X of all 44 Senate Democrats who voted against keeping the government open wearing sombreros and mustaches while a parody version of the song "Macarena" plays.
The other side: "Mr. President, the next time you have something to say about me, don't cop out through a racist and fake AI video," Jeffries said Tuesday in response to the post.
- "When I'm back in the Oval Office, say it to my face," he said.
- Schumer also addressed the video, saying the president is "busy trolling away on the internet like a 10-year-old" on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
Context: Juan Proaño, chief executive officer of the League of United Latin American Citizens, told Axios in a phone interview that the sombrero is being distorted from its "prideful" position in Mexican culture.
- "In the American use of it, it has really been used as a caricature, to paint Mexicans as lazy," he said, listing cartoons that depict Mexicans sleeping with sombreros covering their faces or portraying a bandit.
- "Anytime you see them in these caricatures, costumes or gags with a mustache ... when it's used inappropriately to demean an entire community, it's racist," he said.
State of play: A coalition of Latino rights groups led by Voto Latino, released a statement on Instagram condemning Trump for spreading "dangerous" rhetoric on Wednesday.
- "The White House should lead with integrity and unite people, not vilify communities that power our economy, culture and democracy," they wrote.
- "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."
- An aide to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus told Axios that the posts are racist and immature, adding that "I encourage Republicans to keep doing this, because it just shows the American people who they are."
What they're saying: Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters in the White House briefing room Wednesday that he thought the videos were "funny" and that Trump was "joking and having a good time."
- "You can negotiate in good faith while poking fun at some of the absurdities of the Democrats' positions, and poking fun at the absurdity of the Democrats themselves," Vance said.
- After being confronted about the video by Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the video "wasn't my style." Johnson later told reporters Thursday that Jeffries should "ignore" the "sideshow."
- "People are getting caught up in battles over social media memes. This is not a game. We've got to keep the government open for the people," he said.
What we're watching: According to a White House spokesperson, the "sombreros will continue until the Democrats reopen the government."
Go deeper: Trump, Vought to decide which "Democrat Agencies" to cut during shutdown "opportunity"
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from Voto Latino and comments from Juan Proaño.
