Hakeem Jeffries Faces Backlash After Post Following Trump Assassination Attempt: ‘This Language Must Stop’
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries found himself at the center of a social media firestorm after a post he made shortly after an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The incident, which occurred on Sunday while Trump was golfing, involved shots fired at an individual reportedly intending to assassinate the former president. According to CNN, Trump, unfazed by the situation, remarked that he “really wanted to finish the hole.”
Approximately 30 minutes after news of the attempted shooting broke, Jeffries posted a message on social media that quickly drew the ire of Trump supporters. It remains unclear whether Jeffries was aware of the assassination attempt at the time of his post, which read, “Extreme MAGA Republicans are the party of a national abortion ban and Trump’s Project 2025. We must stop them.”
It was the phrase “We must stop them” that ignited outrage among Trump’s supporters, who perceived it as poorly timed, given the recent attempt on Trump’s life. Trump’s former intelligence officer, Richard Grenell, was among the first to respond, saying, “This language must stop.”
Grenell expressed concern over the potential consequences if Trump were to be assassinated, stating, “Do you realize that if Donald Trump is assassinated our country will be ripped in two? I fear for America with these tactics. Your language is radical and contains two lies. For the sake of our country, stop.”
Other prominent Trump supporters also voiced their anger. Pro-Trump podcaster Stephen L. Miller pointed out the timing of the post, writing, “The Dem House leader 30 minutes after a second assassination attempt on Trump.” Former litigator David Freiheit added, “Looks like someone was listening to you. You belong in jail.”
The outrage continued with conservative figures like the account Libs of TikTok, which bluntly asked, “What the actual F is wrong with you.” Right-wing journalist Andy Ngo took a direct jab at Jeffries, asking, “Are you and your peers in your party very disappointed today that a person who took direct action was stopped by the Secret Service, Rep. Jeffries?”
Even disgraced former GOP lawmaker George Santos, who was indicted on fraud charges, joined in, accusing Jeffries of incitement: “You have blood on your hands, you vile hack.” As the backlash grows, Jeffries has yet to issue a statement clarifying whether he was aware of the assassination attempt when he posted the controversial message. Regardless, the timing of his post has fueled anger and controversy, especially among Trump’s most ardent supporters.
