Vice President JD Vance has defended a “racist” sombrero meme that President Donald Trump posted to troll House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, insisting it was funny.

Speaking in the briefing room on the first day of the federal shutdown, the vice president also promised Jeffries that the posts would stop—provided he helped Republicans reopen the government.

“The president’s joking, and we’re having a good time,” Vance told reporters when asked about the meme, which Democrats had branded as bigoted.

“You can negotiate in good faith while also poking a little bit of fun at some of the absurdities of the Democrats’ positions.

“And I’ll tell Hakeem Jeffries right now: I make this solemn promise to you that if you help us reopen the government the sombrero memes we’ll stop.”

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