President Donald Trump posted another bizarre AI-generated video on social media taunting Democrats over the government shutdown, prompting fresh questions about his mental fitness.
The animated video is soundtracked by an AI-produced pastiche of Blue Öyster Cult’s 1976 hit, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” portraying White House budget director and Project 2025 architect Russell Vought as the titular harbinger of death, and shows Trump clanging the song's divertingly prominent cowbell.
The video also shows House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a sombrero and handlebar mustache, nodding to Trump's false claim that Democrats are forcing the shutdown to preserve health care funding for undocumented migrants, and ends with children in MAGA Halloween costumes trick-or-treating.
The revised lyrics to the song are: “Now their time has come / Here the power’s gone / Russ Vought is the reaper / He wields the pen, the funds and the brain / Here comes the reaper / Dems you babies / Here comes the reaper / Gonna tie your hands / Here comes the reaper / Won’t be able to fly / Here comes the reaper / Cry baby end your plan.”
The president's post renewed questions about his fitness for office.
"Trump just posted this," posted hedge fund manager Spencer Hakimian. "What is going on?"
"Signs of psychosis," replied attorney George Conway. "No biggie."
"Meanwhile on Truth Social," said The Intercept's Nick Turse. "Yes, this was posted by the President of the United States."
"IT JUST GETS MORE HORRIFIC!!!" added Bluesky user Nita. "Project 2025 puts out a video of Trump and Vaught as the Grim Reaper, while JD plays drums. This was posted by Trump. They feel untouchable...obviously... considering the lack of pushback."
"Trump and Vance, bit-part session players on Vought's video," noted Bluesky user Alec MacKinnon. "Can't even keep time."
"Representative Dean put it best about The White House In Crisis and Trump's decline: 'THE PRESIDENT IS UNWELL,'" agreed broadcaster Keith Olbermann.
"Cringe and weird, Trump posted this AI generated video feat. himself, JD Vance and Russ Vought as the grim reaper," added Bluesky user Luca Migo. "Trump is unbothered by the shutdown he provoked and believes this gives him the green light to implement the 2025 agenda."
