Former President Donald Trump has been making headlines again, this time for his activity, or lack thereof, during the recent government shutdown. While typically a constant presence in the media, Trump notably remained largely out of the public eye during the initial days of the shutdown, raising questions about his strategy and motivations.
Trump's Absence Sparks Speculation
CNN highlighted Trump's unusual silence, noting the contrast between his recent high-profile appearances and his absence as the shutdown commenced. Anchor Erin Burnett pointed out that Trump, who "loves to be seen," made no in-person statements. While he did post on Truth Social and participate in an interview with OANN, his withdrawal from the spotlight was significant.
Jeff Zeleny, CNN's Chief National Affairs Correspondent, suggested that Trump's absence might be a deliberate attempt to distance himself from the shutdown's negative consequences. "[Trump’s absence] signals first and foremost, he does not want to be out front or the face of this shutdown, at least in its opening day," Zeleny explained.
'Party of Hate, Evil, and Satan'
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump launched a series of attacks against Democrats on Truth Social, branding them "the party of hate, evil, and Satan." His posts included unflattering images of prominent Democrats like Chuck Schumer, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nancy Pelosi, and Joe and Jill Biden.
Trump's post read, "The Democratic Party is Dead! They have no leadership! No message! No hope! Their only message for America is to hate Trump."
AI-Generated Content and Racist Jabs
Trump's online activity also included the use of AI-generated content, such as a surreal music video featuring budget director Russell Vought as the Grim Reaper. He also faced criticism for posting a doctored video that portrayed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a sombrero and mustache, accompanied by mariachi music. Democrats condemned these posts as racist and dangerous.
While some Republicans expressed discomfort with the content off-camera, Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump loyalist, acknowledged the video was "not my style" but stopped short of denouncing it.