US President Donald Trump

WASHINGTON — As federal workers and members of Congress in both parties worry about the ongoing government shutdown, President Donald Trump is phoning it in — literally — mostly with juvenile Internet memes.

Monday, after meeting with the four top legislative leaders, Trump posted on his social media platform an AI-enhanced video of House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York wearing a sombrero and a giant black mustache.

On Wednesday, hours after the shutdown began, he reposted a photo of himself signing a document with the caption: “CRY ALL YOU WANT; HE’S DOING EXACTLY WHAT I HIRED HIM FOR.”

Thursday night, he posted a video mocking the federal workforce in his own executive branch who are fearful of losing their jobs with a cover of the Blue Oyster Cult classic “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” featuring his own budget director and layoff enthusiast Russ Vought wearing a hooded cloak and carrying a scythe.

Minutes later, he posted videos making fun of Jeffries and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, individually, with the Jeffries one depicting Trump tossing a “Trump 2028” cap onto Jeffries’ head and then laughing uproariously, which manages to mock both Jeffries and the U.S. Constitution at the same time.

President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he departs the White House on Sept. 26 in Washington, D.C.

At no point since the Monday meeting — which was requested by Jeffries and Schumer, not initiated by Trump — has Trump tried to work out differences between Democrats and Republicans to end the impasse.

“Everything that President Trump has done subsequent to Monday has been unhinged and........

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