Just hours before the government shut down at midnight Wednesday, President Donald Trump staged a stunt in the Oval Office, placing “Trump 2028” hats in front of top Democratic leaders during a tense budget meeting, as reported by The New York Times. The images, later posted to his Truth Social account, captured Trump grinning as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sat across from him, visibly caught off guard.
Trump’s Oval Office Stunt
Photos released by Trump showed the hats prominently displayed on the Resolute Desk as Schumer and Jeffries looked on. In one image, Trump pointed directly at Jeffries with a smirk, the merchandise staged front and center during the high-stakes meeting.
Jeffries Calls It “Strangest Thing”
Speaking to CNN, Jeffries recounted the bizarre moment. “He did not try to hand Leader Schumer and me the Trump 2028 hat. They just randomly appeared in the middle of the meeting on the desk. It was the strangest thing ever,” he said. Jeffries added that he turned to Vice President JD Vance, seated nearby, and asked, “Don’t you have a problem with this?” to which Vance replied, “No comment.”
Mocking Video Adds Insult
Trump’s trolling didn’t end with the hats. The president also posted a digitally altered video depicting Jeffries in a sombrero while a mariachi band of Trumps serenaded him. The clip, widely criticized online, underscored Trump’s penchant for personal attacks during critical political negotiations.
Shutdown Follows Failed Talks
The Oval Office theatrics unfolded just hours before the Senate rejected a short-term Republican funding bill. All but three Senate Democrats voted against the measure, insisting on healthcare-related concessions, triggering the nation’s first government shutdown since December 2018.
First Shutdown in Years
The shutdown, which began at midnight Wednesday, has forced non-essential government operations to cease and left tens of thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay. The last shutdown under Trump’s presidency in 2018 dragged on for 35 days, the longest in U.S. history.
Political Fallout Intensifies
The stunt with the hats and mocking video is expected to fuel partisan tensions as both parties brace for public backlash. Democrats argue Trump is trivializing a crisis that affects millions of Americans, while his supporters see it as yet another example of the president dominating the political stage with spectacle.