1:52OMB Director Russell Vought observes President Donald Trump as he speaks in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, June 10, 2025. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
The White House on Friday defended President Donald Trump's continued employment of social media to needle Democrats during the government impasse, issuing warnings of specific reductions and sharing a pair of AI-generated clips that depicted Project 2025's co-author as the "Grim Reaper" as well as another making fun of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
In a post shared late Thursday, the president showcased a digitally created video portraying Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought in the guise of the "Grim Reaper" while the executive branch menaces with widespread federal employee terminations and funding slashes to what Trump terms "Democratic Agencies."
An Ai image of OMB Director Russell Vought depicted as the Grim Reaper shared by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
Trump previously convened with Vought on Thursday; Vought is the co-creator and an advocate for Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint advocating for the discharge of federal personnel and the abolishment of federal departments.
"Russ Vought is the Reaper. He holds the pen, the funds, and the mind. Here comes the Reaper," a voice sings in the video while Vought is shown parading through the Capitol dressed as the figure embodying impending doom.
Hours following the publication, Vought announced via X that he would withhold federal dollars for transit infrastructure initiatives in Chicago, a city governed by Democrats that has been the subject of criticisms from Trump.
Earlier in the week, Vought had also withheld funds allocated for transit infrastructure endeavors in New York and New Jersey, likewise states run by Democrats.
In a separate post, Trump showcased an additional AI-generated video mocking House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries with a “TRUMP 2028” hat while they were portrayed conferring in the White House on Monday.
An Ai image of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office that was shared on Trump’s Truth Social account.@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
It was also on Monday that Trump shared a digitally rendered clip that depicted Jeffries with a false mustache and wearing a sombrero, reinforcing a Mexican stereotype.
Jeffries, who had characterized Monday's video as "racist" and "bigoted," was questioned concerning the latest deep fake on Friday morning during an interview on MSNBC.
"It further substantiates that Republicans are indeed determined to shut the government down because every action President Trump has taken since Monday has been uncontrolled and frivolous. As a matter of fact, Donald Trump is in the presidential witness protection program," the minority leader stated.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries walks to a press conference on Capitol Hill, Oct. 1, 2025, in Washington.Mark Schiefelbein/AP
"He is impossible to locate on the issue of the government shutdown because he is aware that he is the cause. The erratic behavior observed only reinforces that regrettable reality," he continued.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt refuted Jeffries' remarks during a Friday briefing, dismissing them as "absurd fodder."
ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce questioned, "The president has presented this as an unparalleled chance to dismiss surplus employees. He's released a clip comparing it to the Grim Reaper. So which narrative is correct? Is this an occasion to fire staff or an 'unfortunate consequence'" (as Leavitt characterized it).
"He enjoys having some amusement, and both viewpoints can concurrently hold true," Leavitt replied. "We are not in favor of dismissing personnel. No one experiences pleasure, and if this is your perspective, it is lamentable that you interpret the White House and our workforce as aspiring to render individuals jobless. This is no one's aim, yet occasionally, difficult decisions must be undertaken within government.
However, Leavitt evaded direct answers on whether federal layoffs could still materialize after the shutdown concludes.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Oct. 3, 2025, in Washington.Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Vice President JD Vance has defended Trump's memes, asserting on Wednesday that they were mere jest aimed at ridiculing Democrats. He expressed his incomprehension of how Jeffries could regard the video posted by Trump on Monday as racist.
Republicans on Capitol Hill have maintained that federal employees are bearing the brunt of the government shutdown and have exhorted Democrats to reinstate government functions to safeguard their employment.
Bruce also asked Leavitt, "You've argued that these anticipated layoffs are necessary to sustain fundamental services, yet that has never been the precedent in previous shutdowns … So, what accounts for the necessity of layoffs specifically during this shutdown?"
Leavitt responded, "Because we have an administration and a president who are wholly devoted to reinstating fiscal responsibility within our government and acting in the best interests of the American taxpayer."
She continued, "And thus, Democrats have presented this administration with an undesirable decision that entails reviewing the financial records to pinpoint where these cuts and layoffs can be implemented."
House Speaker Mike Johnson has echoed that statement and asserted that Vought aims to avert terminations if feasible.
He also defended the president's memes when questioned about them on Friday.
"Are they deriving significant satisfaction? No. Is he teasing Democrats? Yes. Because that is characteristic of President Trump, and individuals are amused by it. Ultimately, however, the decisions are onerous," Johnson said.
"The repercussions are substantial on actual individuals, actual Americans. We stand by federal employees who perform admirably in numerous sectors. The purpose behind the attempts to find amusement, the intention to lighten the gravity, was to underscore the absurdity inherent in the Democrats' stance," he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks next to Senate Majority Leader John Thune during a press conference on the third day of a partial shutdown of the federal government at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, October 3, 2025.Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
"And they are utilizing memes and the resources available through social media to achieve that. While some find it entertaining, the choices at hand are difficult, and they derive no joy from them," Johnson added.
Legal authorities have asserted that the Constitution and federal statutes empower solely Congress to mandate reductions to federal entities or to eliminate them outright.
The White House has not elaborated further on the legality surrounding Trump's threats, nor has it responded to queries concerning how terminating personnel who are not receiving compensation would alleviate expenditure.
-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
