President Donald Trump on Thursday accused House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of helping incite the most recent assassination attempt against him, dramatically escalating tensions between the White House and the top House Democrat.
In a blistering Truth Social post, Trump argued Jeffries should face criminal charges after using “maximum warfare” rhetoric against Republicans just days before the alleged assassination scare tied to the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April.
“This lunatic, Hakeem ‘Low IQ’ Jeffries, should be charged with INCITING VIOLENCE!” Trump wrote.
The president included side-by-side images in the post showing Jeffries holding a sign with the phrase “maximum warfare” alongside photos of Trump and White House aide James Blair. Trump then juxtaposed the image with a photo labeled “three days later” showing alleged suspect Cole Allen storming a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton.
“Should Hakeem Jeffries be charged with inciting violence?” Trump asked his 12.6 million followers.
TRUMP: This lunatic, Hakeem “Low IQ” Jeffries, should be charged with INCITING VIOLENCE! The radical left Democrats actually want to destroy our country. pic.twitter.com/xQ7x5cuDyJ
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 7, 2026
The explosive accusation comes as the White House and congressional Republicans increasingly argue that inflammatory rhetoric from Democratic leaders has contributed to a dangerous political climate surrounding Trump.
A spokesperson for Jeffries pointed Fox News Digital to a social media response from the Democratic leader dismissing Trump’s comments as “another deranged rant.”
“Gas prices are sky high, grocery bills are surging and families can’t catch a break,” Jeffries wrote on X. “Democrats are about to take back the House and you’re losing your mind.”
The online clash reignited controversy surrounding Jeffries’ “maximum warfare” language, which Republicans blasted in late April after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner scare shocked Washington.
Jeffries previously refused to back down from the rhetoric.
“I don’t give a damn about your criticism,” he told Republicans.
The Democrat later defended the phrase during a press conference, arguing it was originally used by an anonymous White House official during discussions over the nationwide redistricting fight.
“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,” Jeffries said. “Why? Because Democrats have decided to finish it. Get lost.”
Federal prosecutors allege Allen attempted to breach security near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner while armed and allegedly intended to target Trump and other senior government officials.
The case has become a political lightning rod, with conservatives increasingly pointing to hostile anti-Trump rhetoric as contributing to growing security threats against the president.
