White House Meeting Turns Light-Hearted as Jeffries Confronts Trump 2028 Hats

WHITE HOUSE MEETING TURNS LIGHTHEARTED AS HAKEEM JEFFRIES QUESTIONS TRUMP 2028 HATS In a surprise moment during a White House meeting, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) spotted two "Trump 2028" hats on President Donald Trump's desk and asked Senate Minority Leader JD Vance (R-Ky.), who is also considered a potential 2028 contender, if he had a problem with them. According to eyewitnesses, the red hats appeared on Trump's desk during an inaugural meeting with congressional leadership just days before a government shutdown. Jeffries leaned over to Vance and quipped, "Hey, bro, you got a problem with this?" The room responded with laughter. "It was the randomest thing in the world," Jeffries recalled later at the Capitol. "We were there for serious reasons, and all of a sudden these two red hats appear. It was all so unserious." The meeting, which took place on Monday, was part of Trump's efforts to negotiate with congressional leaders ahead of a potential government shutdown. The White House has been working to reach a deal on funding for the border wall, but talks have stalled. Vance's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, a spokesperson for the Senate Minority Leader said that Vance was focused on finding solutions to the country's pressing issues and was not distracted by the hats. The appearance of the "Trump 2028" hats has sparked debate among lawmakers and pundits about Trump's intentions. Some see it as a sign of his continued interest in running for president again, while others believe it is simply a lighthearted gesture. A White House official said that the hats were a gift from a supporter and were meant to be a "fun" addition to the meeting. The official added that Trump was not planning on wearing them himself but wanted to display them as a symbol of his supporters' enthusiasm. The meeting itself was seen as a crucial opportunity for Trump to build relationships with congressional leaders ahead of the shutdown deadline. However, the lighthearted moment may have taken attention away from the serious policy discussions at hand. As the government teeters on the brink of a shutdown, lawmakers will continue to negotiate and try to reach a deal. The fate of the border wall funding remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the "Trump 2028" hats have become an unlikely symbol of the ongoing drama in Washington. *Reporting by Fortune.*