JD Vance has responded following criticism of an AI video shared by Donald Trump online that has been labeled as ‘racist’.
Those who keep up with the President of the United States on Truth Social are aware of his frequent posts, with some being more controversial than others.
Trump regularly uses the platform to talk about his interactions with global leaders, and occasionally, he shares some unusual videos.
Just before the recent federal government shutdown, Trump posted an AI-generated video on Truth Social that mocked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
The deepfake video depicted Jeffries wearing a sombrero and a handlebar mustache, standing next to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
As the video played, mariachi music accompanied it, and a fake Schumer suggested that Democrats support providing illegal immigrants with free healthcare in the US because they need ‘new voters’.
Jeffries responded to the video, telling MSNBC that the deepfake was a ‘malignant distraction from people who are determined to continue to rip healthcare away’.
Following this, Trump released another AI-generated video on Truth Social, featuring a deepfake Jeffries calling the initial video ‘disgusting’.
During a White House press briefing on Wednesday (October 1), Vice President Vance commented that the president was ‘joking’, expressing that he found it ‘funny’.
Vance stated: “Oh, I think it’s funny. The president’s joking, and we’re having a good time. You can negotiate in good faith while also poking a little bit of fun at some of the absurdities of the Democrats’ positions, and even poking some fun at the absurdity of the Democrats themselves.”
The vice president further explained: “We’re all trying to do a very important job for the American people. The president of the United States likes to have a little bit of fun when he’s doing it. And I think that’s OK.”
In a recent interview with CNN, Jeffries was asked about the clip and his perspective on Trump’s policies.
He said: “He’s an unserious individual. The Republicans are unserious at this point. They have no interest in having a good-faith conversation.”
“And all of the erratic, unhinged behavior that we’ve seen…should suggest to the American people who is actually trying to drive us toward a government shutdown.”
The White House has been approached for comment.