President Donald Trump has leaned into his self-proclaimed role as “troll-in-chief” during the ongoing US government shutdown, unleashing a barrage of memes, AI-generated videos, and stunts aimed at Democratic leaders. The strategy, while controversial, underscores his belief that social media battles are just as crucial as negotiations in Washington.
On the eve of the shutdown deadline, Trump posted images from a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. In the photos, bright red “Trump 2028” caps sat prominently on the Resolute Desk—referencing an impossible third term, as the Constitution limits presidents to two. Trump could be seen grinning and pointing at Jeffries, a stunt the Democratic leader later described as “the strangest thing ever.”
The trolling escalated when Trump shared an AI-generated video depicting Schumer using vulgar language and Jeffries wearing a sombrero with mariachi music playing in the background. Jeffries blasted the video as “racist and fake,” but Trump allies doubled down. Donald Trump Jr. mocked Democrats online, while Senator JD Vance suggested the hats had made the meeting “uncomfortable” but insisted substantive talks took place.
The White House joined the fray by airing old footage of Democrats opposing past shutdowns on loop in the briefing room, underscoring the partisan theatrics. Critics have condemned Trump’s use of racially tinged AI content, while supporters argue it’s a clever strategy to keep Democrats off balance.
For now, Democrats appear divided on how to counter Trump’s online dominance. With the former president fresh off his 2024 election victory, Republicans are betting that memes, trolling, and relentless social media messaging can help them win the political blame game over the shutdown.
As former First Lady Jill Biden’s ex-spokesman Michael LaRosa quipped on X, “If you can’t laugh at this then you epitomize the problem with the Democratic Party these days.”
