'Disgusting': Karoline Leavitt under fire after bizarre new 'terrorists' claim on Fox News
White House press secretary is drawing criticism after alleging that members of the Democratic Party are mainly terrorists, undocumented immigrants and violent criminals.
Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Karoline Leavitt claimed, "The Democrat Party's main constituency is made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals."
Republicans have spent weeks alleging that the murder of conservative Charlie Kirk was prompted by allegations that Republicans were fascists. They have demanded that Democrats condemn such allegations and stop comparing them to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
"But Dems should really tone down their rhetoric…" said publisher of The Bulwark, Sarah Longwell, sarcastically.
"Remember when they pretended to want to 'turn down the temperature?'" asked Human Rights Campaign press secretary Brandon Wolf.
"This s--t is so f---ing dangerous and everyone on the Republican side just nods along," said former Barack Obama strategist Dan Pfeiffer.
"This is INCREDIBLY dangerous framing and should make the hair on the back of your [neck] stand, whether you're a Republican, Democrat, or Independent. And it's also patently false," said veteran fighter pilot Carey Lohrenz.
Democratic digital strategist Ally Sammarco told Leavitt, "You’re disgusting and a liar."
"Now say all that again from the Qatari airbase in Idaho," quipped filmmaker Jeremy Newberger, referencing the news from Secretary Pete Hegseth that the United States will "build a Qatari Emeri air force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho."
"Disgusting bulls--t," said public speaker and journalist John Harwood.
Senate Majority PAC's Lauren French recalled, "Chattering class lost its goddam mind over Clinton’s ‘basket of deplorables’ comment. This - like so much of the White House’s most egregious behavior - will be overlooked as just how they talk, political theatre."
"They dropped their whole 'trans terrorist' thing because it got laughed at in focus groups btw," said journalist Ari Drennen.
Venture Beat executive editor Carl Franzen suggested the Democratic Party sue her for slander.
"'Deplorables' was a scandal for years and she wasn’t even in the government yet. This is the White House Press Secretary, whose salary is paid by the American public," noted American Immigration Council senior fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, recalling Hillary Clinton's comment about Trump having supporters who are a "basket of deplorables."
"Really grotesque that @PressSec is trying to distract from the Nazis running parts of her party by lying. ESPECIALLY since her boss is the guy who prioritized releasing hundreds of violent criminals on his first day on the job," wrote national security expert Marcy Wheeler.
"How is this anything other than deliberate incitement that risks leading to deadly violence?" asked government affairs VP Dylan Williams at the Center for International Policy.