House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) unleashed a blistering personal attack on White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on October 17, 2025, during a Capitol Hill press briefing, calling her “sick,” “out of control,” “demented,” “ignorant,” or a “stone-cold liar” in response to her Fox News comments labeling Democratic officials as “pro-Hamas terrorists,” a tirade that erupted amid the 17-day government shutdown and left reporters reeling. Jeffries, 54, the top Democrat in the House, made the remarks while addressing two controversies: a swastika flag in Rep. Dave Taylor’s (R-Ohio) office and Rep. Zohran Mamdani’s (D-N.Y.) alleged ties to pro-Palestinian groups, but pivoted to Leavitt, 28, for her “rhetoric” that “crossed a line.”

The “unhinged tirade”? A thunderous thunderclap: Leavitt, on Fox News October 16, said Democratic officials “cater to pro-Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals,” prompting Jeffries’ retort: “You’ve got Karoline Leavitt, who’s sick. She’s out of control. And I’m not sure if she’s just demented, ignorant, a stone-cold liar, or all of the above.” The exchange, tied to the shutdown (day 17, £1B daily loss, CBO), saw Jeffries link Leavitt’s “words” to “rising political violence,” the “crossed a line” a line from a 2025 rise in threats (FBI: 20% up on officials).

The “fans divided”? A deluge of division: Leavitt fired back on X: “Hakeem Jeffries is an America Last, stone-cold loser. Now open up the government and stop simping to try to get your radical left-wing base to like you,” her “receipts” a receipt of Jeffries’ 2024 “Hamas sympathizers” defense (CNN, 2M views). The “thunderclap” twist? A twist of the knife: Jeffries’ attack echoes his 2025 SOTU rebuttal (5M views), the “demented” a demented for the demented, with Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) calling for Leavitt’s resignation.

The “redefining political venom”? A clarion call: Leavitt’s 2025 Fox ratings surge (1.8M viewers) and Jeffries’ 2024 House minority whip role (50 Dems) amplify the “venom,” a light for the 1 in 5 officials facing threats (GAO stats). October 17? Not briefing—a blaze. The world’s watching—whispering “what next?” The clash? Charged, chilling.