A heated exchange between White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries escalated Thursday into a public war of words after Leavitt criticized the Democratic Party’s voter base and Jeffries responded by attacking her personally.

The back-and-forth continued into Friday, drawing national attention as both sides doubled down.

The controversy began when Leavitt addressed reporters from the White House lawn, where she accused Democrats of prioritizing extremist groups and criminals over law-abiding citizens.

“The Democrat Party’s main constituencies are made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals,” Leavitt said.

“That is who the Democratic Party is catering to — not the White House, and not the Republican Party, who [are] standing up for law-abiding Americans. Not just across the country but [also] around the world.”

Leavitt: “The Democrat Party’s main constituency is made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals.” pic.twitter.com/IcJwhYYV5x

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 16, 2025

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Her comments came amid heightened tensions in Washington, where lawmakers continue to debate immigration enforcement and foreign policy following the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel.

The remarks quickly prompted an angry response from Jeffries, who accused Leavitt of making inflammatory statements while the administration manages a federal government shutdown.

“You’ve got Karoline Leavitt, who’s sick. She’s out of control,” Jeffries told reporters.

“And I’m not sure whether she’s just demented, ignorant, a stone-cold liar, or all of the above. But the notion that an official White House spokesperson would say that the Democratic Party consists of terrorists, violent criminals, and undocumented immigrants makes no sense, that this is what the American people are getting from the Trump administration in the middle of a shutdown.”

Jeffries says that @PressSec is “sick, out of control, demented, and ignorant” for saying that Democrats love illegals and violent criminals.

All the proof you need that Karoline is doing a fantastic job. pic.twitter.com/eWDzNHZs0Y

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 17, 2025

Jeffries’ remarks came as he also sought to deflect attention from a separate controversy involving a House Republican lawmaker, after a swastika flag was discovered in the congressman’s office earlier this week.

The representative has denied any connection to the incident, calling it an act of political sabotage.

Leavitt responded Friday morning during an interview with Fox News Digital, where she stood by her earlier comments and said Democrats were reacting defensively because her statement reflected reality.

“Hakeem and Democrats are lashing out because they know what I said is true,” Leavitt said.

“The Democrat Party’s elected officials absolutely cater to pro-Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals. House Democrats voted against a resolution condemning Hamas following the horrific October 7th terrorist attacks, and Democrats cheered on pro-Hamas radicals while they hijacked America’s college campuses and harassed Jewish students.”

Leavitt went on to criticize Democratic immigration and criminal justice policies.

“Democrats opened our borders and allowed tens of millions of illegal aliens into our country over the past four years, including rapists and murderers, because they view them as future voters,” she said.

“Democrats coddle violent criminals and support soft-on-crime policies like cashless bail that let violent offenders back on the streets to hurt law-abiding citizens.”

Hakeem Jeffries and the Democrats are lashing out because they know what I said is true.

The Democrat Party’s elected officials absolutely cater to pro-Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals.

House Democrats voted against a resolution condemning Hamas following…

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) October 17, 2025

Shortly after Leavitt’s interview, the official White House X account weighed in, taking a jab at Jeffries with a digitally edited post that featured an image of the congressman wearing a miniature sombrero. The caption read:

“What’s ‘sick’ and ‘demented’ is the Democrats’ obsession with defending criminal illegal aliens — rapists, murderers, and those who’d burn our country to the ground. But ok, go off, Sombrero Guy.”

What’s ‘sick’ and ‘demented’ is the Democrats’ obsession with defending criminal illegal aliens—rapists, murderers, and those who’d burn our country to the ground.

But ok, go off, Sombrero Guy. pic.twitter.com/cF9uJvgwB1

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 17, 2025

The post quickly went viral and drew mixed reactions online, with critics accusing the administration of mocking a sitting lawmaker and supporters calling the response a blunt rebuttal to Democratic attacks.

The exchange marks the latest in a series of partisan clashes between the Trump administration and House Democrats, as the White House continues to press for tougher immigration enforcement, crackdowns on campus unrest, and greater accountability for far-left activism.

While Jeffries has called Leavitt’s statements “outrageous,” the White House has shown no indication of walking them back.

Leavitt’s comments follow a pattern of strong public messaging from the Trump administration, which has frequently accused Democrats of being too lenient on illegal immigration, crime, and radical activism.

As both sides prepare for renewed legislative battles over border security and federal spending, the episode highlights the growing intensity of political rhetoric in Washington — with neither party showing signs of backing down.