House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended his pledge to wage "maximum warfare" against GOP redistricting efforts, saying, "I don't give a damn" about critics. He cited a New York Times report suggesting similar language was used by an anonymous White House staffer and reiterated that he condemns political violence. The quarrel escalated into sharp exchanges with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and drew criticism from Republicans and the NRCC, particularly after reports of an apparent assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Jeffries also denounced a proposed Florida congressional map as a "DeSantis dummymander."
Jeffries Doubles Down: 'I Don't Give a Damn' After Pledge of 'Maximum Warfare' Against GOP
Police and National Guard stand in front of the Washington Hilton after the White House Correspondents Association Dinner was postponed April 25, 2026, in Washington, DC.(Getty Images)
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Monday stood by his vow to wage what he called "maximum warfare" against Republican redistricting efforts, telling reporters bluntly, "I don’t give a damn" about critics who object to the rhetoric.
Pressed about last week's pledge to "unleash maximum warfare" to counter GOP maps ahead of November’s midterm elections, Jeffries replied, "I stand by it. You can continue to criticize me for it. I don't give a damn about your criticism." He framed the rhetoric as part of a broader fight over redistricting and congressional power ahead of the elections.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 10, 2025.
Context and Defense
Jeffries defended his phrasing by citing a New York Times report that, he said, showed the same language — "maximum warfare everywhere, all the time" — had been used by an anonymous White House staffer during the summer 2025 redistricting dispute. He also insisted that he condemns political violence "in all of its forms."
Exchange With the White House
The dispute escalated into a personal exchange with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, whom Jeffries called a "disgrace" and a "stone-cold liar" after she blamed sustained hostile rhetoric from Democrats for contributing to threats against President Donald Trump. Jeffries shot back: "This so-called White House press secretary wants to lecture America and lecture us about civility. Get lost. Clean up your own house before you have anything to say to us about the language that we use."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attends a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026, after President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner following a security incident.
Leavitt said at a separate briefing: "This hateful, constant and violent rhetoric directed at President Trump, day after day after day for 11 years, has helped to legitimize this violence and bring us to this dark moment." She warned that extreme rhetoric can inspire unstable individuals to act.
Political Fallout
Republicans and the National Republican Congressional Committee sharply criticized Jeffries' remarks. NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said, "Democrats are playing with fire and pretending they don’t smell the smoke," arguing that such rhetoric caters to the party's far-left base.
Republican criticism intensified after reports of an apparent assassination attempt on President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, which added sensitivity to any charged political language in the moment.
On Redistricting and the Florida Map
Jeffries also attacked a proposed congressional map that Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature is expected to pass, calling it a "DeSantis dummymander" and "blatantly unconstitutional." He said the plan is aimed at erasing Democratic gains and accused Republicans of trying to rig the midterms, though he asserted those efforts would not ultimately succeed.
Bottom line: The confrontation highlights escalating tensions over redistricting, campaign rhetoric and political accountability ahead of pivotal midterm elections, with both sides trading accusations about the role of language in fueling real-world threats.
Help us improve.
