Ex-pelosi Aide Accuses Hakeem Jeffries Of 'squandering' Anti-trump Opportunities In Stunning Rebuke

A erstwhile apical advisor to ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., suggested House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is not gathering nan infinitesimal successful nan existent Trump era.

"Trump is conscionable giving america each this unthinkable reddish meat. I mean, I've ne'er seen thing for illustration this before. It's for illustration nan biggest gift immoderate statement has been fixed by nan opposition, and we're conscionable squandering it, to a degree," erstwhile Pelosi advisor Ashley Etienne told Politico's Deep Dive podcast. 

Etienne helped Pelosi oversee Democrats' messaging during President Donald Trump's first impeachment. She besides antecedently worked for erstwhile Vice President Kamala Harris and erstwhile President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign.

She said Jeffries was "doing well" successful galore areas and said she had "a tremendous magnitude of respect" for nan New York Democrat but signaled that he was missing opportunities connected anti-Trump messaging.

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A erstwhile advisor to ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi shared disapproval of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' leadership. (Getty/Reuters)

"He gave a reside this morning. I don't person immoderate talking points successful my telephone astir what he said. And I'm going to beryllium doing TV and this question and reply each day. That's a failure," Etienne said.

"How do you get to subject if you're not telling group what nan hellhole you want them to say? At slightest emphatically, astatine slightest tonally."

Jeffries' friends pushed backmost against that characterization, pointing retired that intraparty clash was taking attraction distant from Trump's debased canvass numbers and Republicans' policies.

"Donald Trump’s support ratings are plummeting, and he’s bringing House Republicans down pinch him. Extreme MAGA Republicans person been forced to hold their plans to beforehand Trump’s centerpiece legislative privilege owed to aggravated backlash against their strategy to enact nan largest cuts successful history to Medicaid and nutrient assistance. Let’s support nan main thing, nan main thing," Jeffries spokesperson Christiana Stephenson told Fox News Digital.

Just Friday morning, Jeffries released a connection hammering House Republicans for having to hold portion of their legislative activity to beforehand Trump's agenda.

But Etienne's comments are a notable rebuke from a erstwhile elder Democratic activity adjutant to 1 of nan party's astir powerful existent officials, which comes aft months of Democrats being plagued by infighting complete messaging woes.

Etienne noted that Democrats had scored respective wins connected nan messaging front, for illustration having "successfully demonized Elon Musk" and Sen. Cory Booker's caller record-breaking filibuster speech.

But she singled retired liberals' protests during Trump's reside to a associated convention of Congress arsenic an "embarrassing" setback for nan statement and Jeffries.

Etienne said nan Democratic protests during Trump's reside were ‘embarrassing.’ (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)

"If you look astatine nan headlines post-the speech, moreover during nan speech, it was much astir Democrats and Democrats protesting alternatively than what Trump was really saying. And successful those benignant of moments, you don't want to go nan story. You want Trump to beryllium nan story," Etienne said.

"And I besides thought it was a problem for Mr. Jeffries. I mean, it really says a batch astir really group worth his leadership. He asked for nary protest. And what did they do? They protestation 50 different ways."

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Both Pelosi and Jeffries' offices told Politico that nan second often seeks nan former's input, and Jeffries' spokesperson pushed backmost connected Politico's reporting that House Democratic leaders were seeking to move past Pelosi and that Jeffries was not doing capable to thief Democratic groups pinch messaging. 

One of those groups, nan Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), pushed backmost connected nan assertion they were not proceeding capable from Jeffries.

PCCC sent retired a property merchandise that read, "Today, successful a POLITICO article we are not willing successful dwelling on, a erstwhile Pelosi staffer attacked Hakeem Jeffries. PCCC co-founder Adam Green said, ‘We perceive much from Jeffries than we ever heard from Pelosi.’"

Meanwhile, a House Democratic adjutant told Fox News Digital that Jeffries held "multiple calls" previewing his earlier reside connected Trump's first 100 days successful office, arsenic good arsenic talking points "emphasizing nan Leader’s connection that President Trump’s first 100 days person been a disaster for nan American people."

Stephenson, Jeffries' spokesperson, besides posted connected X of Politico's report, "Can anyone show maine really grandstanding for illustration this is thing different than a gift to Republicans?"

But House Republicans' elections limb was speedy to pounce connected nan discord arsenic well.

"Hakeem Jeffries is nan alleged leader of a squad that doesn’t fearfulness him, doesn’t travel him, and now, doesn’t moreover dress to respect him," National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokesperson Mike Marinella said successful a statement. 

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And Democratic strategist Julian Epstein, a erstwhile main counsel of nan House Judiciary Committee, criticized Jeffries' activity but said that Trump was not Democrats' main problem.

"He's not a peculiarly effective speaker, gives nary consciousness of guidance aliases purpose, seems intent connected not offending anyone, and has a activity style that seems highly passive," Epstein said.

"The Democrats successful nan House conscionable look for illustration a large blob that goes wherever gravity takes them, and correct now gravity is taking them to nan difficult protestation left. But nary matter who nan leader is, if nan Democrats are trading a merchandise that voters don't like, it won't matter."

Pelosi's agency did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital's petition for comment.