President Donald Trump has escalated his ongoing feud with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., accusing him of inciting the recent assassination attempt against him.
Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday, claiming that Jeffries should be arrested for promoting “warfare” against Republicans in the days leading up to an assassination scare at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April.
Trump’s Allegations
In his Truth Social post, Trump referred to Jeffries as “Hakeem ‘Low IQ’ Jeffries” and suggested that the Democrat should face charges of inciting violence.
Trump included images of Jeffries standing with a sign reading “maximum warfare,” and juxtaposed this with an image of alleged assassin Cole Allen storming a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton, just three days later.
Trump’s post prompted his 12.6 million followers to consider whether Jeffries should be charged with inciting violence.
Trump wrote, “This lunatic, Hakeem ‘Low IQ’ Jeffries, should be charged with INCITING VIOLENCE!”
Jeffries Responds to Criticism
A spokesperson for Jeffries responded to Trump’s accusations by referring to a social media post where the Minority Leader dismissed Trump’s comments as a “deranged rant.” Jeffries also took the opportunity to highlight the state of the economy, stating, “Gas prices are sky high, grocery bills are surging, and families can’t catch a break.” He also predicted that Democrats would reclaim the House, adding that Trump appeared to be “losing your mind.”
This exchange occurred after Jeffries had already defended his use of the phrase “maximum warfare” in response to criticism from Republicans in late April.
“Maximum Warfare” Controversy
Jeffries, when confronted about his controversial language, maintained that the phrase “maximum warfare” was not a call to violence, but a reference to the nationwide redistricting battle. He explained that the phrase was first used by an anonymous White House staffer to describe GOP-friendly gerrymandering efforts, which Jeffries argued was designed to intimidate Democrats.
At a news conference, Jeffries said, “That phrase ‘maximum warfare everywhere, all the time’ came from the White House in the summer of 2025, when they started this redistricting battle, and now they’re big mad. Why? Because Democrats have decided to finish it. Get lost.”
While Jeffries has faced backlash for his fiery rhetoric, he has consistently emphasized his opposition to political violence. He clarified during a Fox News interview last month that lawmakers have a responsibility to set a proper example in their language, noting that “whatever your ideological perspective is, we all love America, and we all want to make sure that this country is the best that it can possibly be.”
The Ongoing Rhetorical Battle
The feud between Trump and Jeffries shows no signs of slowing down. Both men continue to exchange heated words, with Trump accusing Jeffries of inciting violence and Jeffries standing by his controversial rhetoric. As tensions rise, it remains to be seen whether these verbal battles will further escalate or result in meaningful policy discussions.
