‘Trump 2028’ Hats, Sombrero Meme Steal Spotlight at Shutdown Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump’s first Oval Office meeting with congressional leaders to avert a government shutdown descended into spectacle after he unveiled “Trump 2028” hats during talks. Democrats pressed to extend health care subsidies, while Republicans focused on defending Trump’s spending plan, but no deal was reached. Hours later, a doctored video mocking Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries went viral, underscoring how political theater overshadowed serious negotiation.
Trump Oval Office Meeting Quick Look
- Setting the Scene: Trump met with congressional leaders in the Oval Office to prevent a looming government shutdown.
- The Moment: Two “Trump 2028” hats suddenly appeared on the Resolute Desk, sparking laughter and disbelief among attendees.
- Jeffries’ Quip: “Hey bro, you got a problem with this?” he joked to Vice President JD Vance.
- Democratic Priorities: Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer urged Trump to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire this year.
- Republican Focus: GOP leaders emphasized Trump’s rural hospital fund and framed Democrats’ demands as partisan obstruction.
- Trump’s Reaction: Listened more than spoke, later accused Democrats of being “unreasonable.”
- No Progress: Talks ended without a deal, pushing the shutdown into its third day.
- The Sombrero Video: Trump’s team posted a doctored meme of Jeffries, drawing widespread criticism for racism and immaturity.
- Political Fallout: The meeting highlighted Trump’s reliance on spectacle over substance as his administration faces growing backlash.
- What’s Next: Negotiations will resume next week, but partisan divides show no sign of narrowing.
Trump’s Oval Office Meeting Turns Into Political Theater — Complete with ‘Trump 2028’ Hats and a Sombrero Meme
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a White House meeting meant to prevent a government shutdown, President Donald Trump’s theatrics — including “Trump 2028” hats and a mocking meme — overshadowed serious negotiations with congressional leaders. Democrats pushed to extend expiring health care subsidies, while Republicans focused on defending Trump’s spending plan. The session ended without progress, reinforcing deep partisan divides and Trump’s flair for spectacle.
What began as President Donald Trump’s first major Oval Office meeting with congressional leaders this term — a high-stakes attempt to prevent a government shutdown — soon turned into a display of political theater straight out of Trump’s playbook.
Halfway through the discussion, aides placed two red caps on the Resolute Desk emblazoned with “TRUMP 2028.”
Across the table sat Vice President JD Vance, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, alongside other top lawmakers and a row of untouched Diet Cokes.
Jeffries leaned toward Vance, a potential 2028 contender himself, and deadpanned:
“Hey bro, you got a problem with this?”
Laughter broke the tension in the room — momentarily.
“It was surreal,” Jeffries recalled later at the Capitol. “We were talking about a government shutdown, and all of a sudden, these campaign hats appeared. It was unserious, like a photo op more than a negotiation.”
A Meeting Meant for Governance Turns into a Meme
The hats weren’t the only surprise. Trump’s staff recorded the session, later splicing clips into a slickly edited campaign-style video that quickly went viral.
What should have been a historic bipartisan moment — Trump’s first “Big Four” meeting of congressional leaders since retaking the presidency — dissolved into a public relations stunt, complete with props and social media rollout.
And by the end of the more than hourlong meeting, there was no deal to avert a government shutdown.
“We don’t want it to shut down,” Trump told reporters the next day. “But the Democrats aren’t being reasonable.”
Democrats Push for Health Care Subsidies
Inside the room, Democrats pressed their key demand: extending Affordable Care Act tax credits that are set to expire at year’s end — a move that could otherwise double premiums for millions of Americans.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump “listened more than he talked,” but appeared unaware of how sharply costs would spike if subsidies were allowed to lapse.
“He didn’t seem to know about it,” Schumer told reporters afterward.
Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, steered the conversation toward rural hospital funding — a GOP priority that was included in Trump’s massive “One Big Beautiful Bill” earlier this year, which combined spending cuts and tax breaks.
“The president showed strong leadership,” Johnson said afterward. “He was focused and engaged — and we all agreed nobody wants a shutdown.”
But for Democrats, the meeting felt more symbolic than substantive. “We were there to negotiate, not pose for photos,” Jeffries said.
Political Theater and Shutdown Stalemate
Behind the scenes, Republican strategists had advised Trump not to meet with Democrats, fearing the optics of negotiation. But the president overruled them, saying he wanted to “hear them out.”
The White House encounter quickly became a reminder of Trump’s unpredictable approach to dealmaking — one familiar to veterans of his first term, when he alternated between reaching across the aisle and berating opponents.
“He likes the tension,” one senior Republican aide said privately. “He thinks conflict keeps him in control of the room.”
But this time, the theatrics did little to move the needle. The government remains shuttered, now entering its third day, with both parties blaming the other.
What’s at Stake: Health Care and Shutdown Fallout
At the heart of the stalemate are two competing priorities:
- Democrats want to extend ACA subsidies that lower health insurance costs for 24 million Americans.
- Republicans, led by Trump, want to pair that extension with Medicaid cuts and new “patriotic education” spending offsets.
Without a deal, health care premiums could rise sharply in January, compounding political pressure as millions lose coverage or face steeper costs.
“This shutdown isn’t just about Washington dysfunction,” said Democratic Sen. Patty Murray. “It’s about families facing higher bills and uncertainty because the president is playing games.”
From “Trump 2028” to Sombrero Mockery
The hats weren’t Trump’s last jab. Hours after the meeting, Trump’s team posted a doctored video on social media showing Jeffries wearing a sombrero and fake moustache alongside Schumer outside the White House.
The video — viewed tens of millions of times — was widely condemned as racist and juvenile.
“When I was a lawyer, there was a Latin phrase I loved: Res ipsa loquitur — the thing speaks for itself,” Jeffries said afterward. “This one certainly does.”
He added that Democrats had hoped the meeting would mark a step toward reopening the government. “Instead, it devolved into something unhinged and unserious,” he said.
The Bigger Picture: Trump’s Governing Style
So far in his second term, Trump has relied on executive actions and his loyal Congress to push through priorities such as mass deportations and sweeping tax changes.
But even his allies admit that keeping the government open requires bipartisan cooperation — something Trump has shown little interest in cultivating.
“Washington doesn’t work without compromise,” said Thune. “That’s just reality.”
“He doesn’t want to negotiate,” Schumer said. “He wants to perform.”
What Happens Next
Talks are expected to resume early next week, though aides from both parties acknowledge that no breakthrough is imminent.
Meanwhile, furloughs have begun, national parks have closed, and pay for federal workers is frozen — all while the political blame game intensifies.
In the midst of it, Trump’s “Trump 2028” hats — likely intended as a distraction — have instead become a symbol of a president who thrives on confrontation, even as the country stumbles toward deeper gridlock.
As one exhausted congressional staffer put it:
“Only in Trump’s Washington could a meeting about a government shutdown end with campaign merch and a meme.”
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