Trump Says Hakeem Jeffries Should Be Charged Over ‘Maximum Warfare’ Rhetoric
President Donald Trump accused Hakeem Jeffries of helping fuel political violence Thursday, arguing the top House Democrat should be charged over rhetoric Trump claims contributed to the latest assassination attempt against him.
Trump escalated his ongoing feud with Jeffries in a Truth Social post tying the Democrat’s “maximum warfare” language to the attempted attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April.
“This lunatic, Hakeem ‘Low IQ’ Jeffries, should be charged with INCITING VIOLENCE!” Trump wrote.
The president included images of Jeffries standing beside signs using the phrase “maximum warfare” alongside photos referencing alleged gunman Cole Allen storming a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton just days later.
“Should Hakeem Jeffries be charged with inciting violence?” Trump asked followers in the post.
Jeffries quickly fired back through social media, dismissing the president’s accusations as “another deranged rant” while pivoting toward attacks on the administration over inflation and rising consumer costs.
“Gas prices are sky high, grocery bills are surging and families can’t catch a break,” Jeffries posted on X. “Democrats are about to take back the House and you’re losing your mind.”
The clash follows weeks of Republican criticism over Jeffries’ repeated use of the phrase “maximum warfare” while discussing nationwide redistricting battles and Democratic political strategy.
Jeffries has refused to back down from the rhetoric, arguing Republicans and White House officials first used the phrase during discussions about aggressive GOP-led redistricting efforts.
“That phrase ‘maximum warfare everywhere, all the time’ came from the White House in the summer of 2025,” Jeffries said at a press conference after earlier backlash erupted over his comments. “Now they’re big mad because Democrats have decided to finish it.”
At another point, Jeffries bluntly rejected Republican complaints over his rhetoric.
“I don’t give a damn about your criticism,” he said.
Despite standing by the language, Jeffries has repeatedly insisted he opposes political violence and believes elected officials should set an appropriate tone publicly.
“We all love America, and we all want to make sure that this country is the best that it can possibly be,” Jeffries said during a previous appearance on Fox News Sunday.
The dispute comes amid heightened national tensions following the attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where authorities say suspect Cole Allen stormed a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons before being stopped by Secret Service agents.
Trump and his allies have increasingly blamed hostile political rhetoric from Democrats and media figures for the repeated threats and assassination attempts targeting the president over the past two years.