House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Lashes Out At Karoline Leavitt, Calling Her “Sick” & “Demented,” In An Unhinged Tirade Amid Shutdown
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 11:00 A.M. ET. Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges: Englebrook Independent News,
WASHINGTON, DC.- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) unleashed an unusually hostile tirade Friday against White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, labeling her “sick,” “demented,” and a “stone-cold liar,” remarks that have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum and fueled accusations that the Democratic leader has lost his composure amid a deepening government shutdown.
Jeffries’ remarks came during a press conference on Capitol Hill, where he railed against Leavitt for comments she made earlier in the week, suggesting that the Democratic base includes “Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals.” Rather than addressing the substance of the shutdown or ongoing negotiations, Jeffries turned his briefing into a personal diatribe against the young spokeswoman.
“You’ve got Karoline Leavitt, who’s sick. She’s out of control. And I’m not sure whether she’s just demented, ignorant, a stone-cold liar, or all of the above,” Jeffries declared, pounding the lectern as reporters looked on. His unhinged remarks on Friday are reminiscent of when, during a press briefing earlier this year, Jeffries called Assistant DHS Public Affairs Secretary Tricia MacLaughlin a “clown.”
The tone of the outburst stunned even some of his own allies, with one senior Democratic aide privately calling the comments “counterproductive” and “needlessly personal.” Republican lawmakers quickly seized on the moment as evidence that Democratic leadership is unraveling under political pressure.
Leavitt responded sharply within hours, calling Jeffries a “stone-cold loser” and accusing him of “melting down on camera instead of leading.” The exchange, widely circulated online, underscored the rising hostility between House Democrats and the White House as the shutdown entered its third week.
Criticism And Fallout;
Political observers say Jeffries’ approach risks overshadowing legitimate policy debates with personal theatrics. His attack on Leavitt, one of the youngest press secretaries in modern history, appeared designed to rally Democratic partisans but instead handed his opponents an easy counterpoint in the messaging war.
Even sympathetic commentators acknowledged that the tone was off-key. “Jeffries had an opportunity to frame Democrats as calm and solutions-oriented,” said one strategist. “Instead, he came off looking angry and rattled.”
The incident adds to tensions surrounding the federal shutdown, which has left hundreds of thousands of government employees furloughed and brought essential services to a halt. Negotiations between Congress and the administration remain deadlocked, with no clear end in sight.
Political Context;
The blowup also reflects the increasingly personal nature of Washington politics. Jeffries, who has sought to project himself as a disciplined and pragmatic counterweight to the White House, appeared to abandon that image in favor of raw confrontation. Critics say it’s a calculated shift designed to energize Democratic voters ahead of the 2026 midterms, but one that risks alienating moderates.
Leavitt, known for her sharp-tongued exchanges with reporters, has made few apologies for her rhetoric, insisting she “won’t be bullied” by political elites. The White House has not issued a formal statement beyond her response, though aides privately suggested the administration sees no reason to escalate further.
Outlook;
As the shutdown drags on and tempers flare, the spectacle of Friday’s press conference has become emblematic of Washington’s dysfunction. With neither party showing willingness to compromise, Americans are left watching a government at an impasse, and leaders are more eager to trade insults than find solutions.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
This article is based on verified public statements and contemporaneous news coverage from Fox News Digital, The Daily Beast, and The Times of India as of October 18, 2025. All quotations are drawn from recorded press events and official remarks. Reporting has been independently cross-checked for accuracy and fairness.
