Jeffries Slams White House Press Secretary for Controversial Remarks

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt on Friday, labeling her comments as “demented” and “ignorant” regarding significant Democratic supporters.

Democratic leaders reacted strongly after Levitt’s remarks on Thursday, where she condemned the party for the ongoing government shutdown. She referred to Democrats as being composed of “Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals.” Jeffries claimed Levitt is a “ruthless liar” and placed the responsibility for the shutdown squarely on the Republicans and the White House.

“Caroline Levitt is out of control. It’s hard to tell if she’s just suffering from dementia, or if she’s a heartless, ignorant liar—or maybe a bit of both,” Jeffries expressed. “It’s absurd for the official White House spokesperson to suggest that the Democratic Party consists of terrorists and violent criminals, especially during a government shutdown. Their words reveal their true position, and they clearly stand on the wrong side of public opinion.”

On October 1, the majority of Democrats voted in favor of shutting down the government, rejecting a Republican proposal for a continuing resolution that did not include extended subsidies from the Biden administration’s Affordable Care Act. Among those who voted to keep the government open were Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada, and independent Sen. Angus King from Maine, who allies with Democrats.

This Democratic approach mirrors previous votes for similar resolutions. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who supported the shutdown, remarked that everyday Americans, including those receiving Social Security, would face the greatest hardships during this government halt.

Furthermore, former President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that Schumer’s decision to allow the government shutdown stemmed from concern over a possible challenge from Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the upcoming primary. At a recent town hall, Ocasio-Cortez and independent Senator Bernie Sanders responded angrily to a question from CNN’s Kaitlan Collins regarding Ocasio-Cortez’s potential candidacy.