April Fools' Day in politics: On April 1, lawmakers trade punchlines instead of policy

While private companies are taking advantage of April Fools' Day to market their products, politicians are using it to take jabs at their enemies across the aisle.   

"I'm pleased with the final product and want to thank the artists for their vision, and feel that I have never looked better," Polis said. 

The press release included a photo of the caricature, which looked like a character from "South Park," along with various requirements he ostensibly gave to the artist who drew it.

"The Governor must be depicted directly facing the viewer. The Governor's well-known signature look, specifically his signature blue polo, must not be altered. The portrait must utilize the bright blue hue of the Governor's iconic tennis shoes. The Governor must be smiling or smizing," the list said.

"I heard Hunter Biden is facing financial hardship, so I decided to commission him to paint my official chairman portrait," Comer wrote in an X post, which included what appeared to be an AI-generated image of Hunter Biden painting a portrait of Comer. 

"No favors from the Big Guy, I promise," he added.

Hunter Biden faced criticism during his father's presidency - and amid an ongoing corruption scandal linked to his family - for allegedly leveraging his status to fetch high prices for his amateur artwork, with reported sales ranging from $75,000 to $500,000.

At the local level and on social media, a state senator from Michigan threw shade at Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for "playing politics" with a special election in the state, and, in North Carolina, the state's Republican Party created a graphic that referred to Democratic leaders in the state, including newly elected Gov. Josh Stein, as "April Fools."