Jeffries tells Trump to keep his ‘reckless mouth shut’ after president calls Democratic Party ‘greatest enemy’
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, rebuked President Donald Trump on Sunday and said he should keep his “reckless mouth shut” after the president called Democrats the “greatest enemy” in America.
“Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democratic Party! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
CNN’s Dana Bash asked Jeffries to react to the statement during Sunday’s “State of the Union.”
“Donald Trump should keep his reckless mouth shut before he gets somebody killed,” Jeffries said.
HOUSE VOTES TO LET TRUMP’S OPERATION EPIC FURY CONTINUE IN IRAN
Jeffries also spoke to Bash about the war in Iran, which he described as a “reckless war of choice.”
“They clearly didn’t anticipate some of the things that have happened, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. What you’re seeing right now are gas prices are through the roof, and that’s adding to an environment in America right now where life has already become too expensive for the American people because of failed policies by Donald Trump,” he said.
Jeffries did not say whether he would support any more funding for the Pentagon or whether he would urge Democrats to vote “no.”
SUNNY HOSTIN DISMISSES ‘THE VIEW’ GUEST HOST’S IRAN WAR COMMENTS: ‘IF THAT HELPS YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT’
“Well, we’ll have that leadership conversation when we actually have a piece of legislation that is in front of us. But I can tell you, uh, there is strong opposition right now to the notion that this war of choice — that is reckless, that’s costing the American people now more than $30 billion — should continue. We need to move, which we plan on doing in short order, a War Powers Resolution so we can bring this situation to a close,” he said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Jeffries previously predicted the war would result in “failure” for the U.S.
“The American people want us to focus on making their life better and making their life more affordable; not getting involved in another endless war in the Middle East that is going to end in failure. This administration somehow found the resources, has found billions of dollars for bombs but can’t find any money to actually bring down the high cost of living here in the United States of America,” Jeffries said.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
UK nuclear submarine deployed to Arabian Sea before Iran targets key US-UK base: reports
A British nuclear-powered submarine has been deployed to the Arabian Sea amid rising tensions in the region and came ahead of Iran’s failed ballistic missile attempt targeting Diego Garcia, a key U.S.-U.K. military base in the Indian Ocean, according to reports.
HMS Anson — a Royal Navy Astute-class submarine armed with Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes — traveled about 5,500 miles from HMAS Stirling, near Perth, Australia, to the region earlier in March.
The submarine is reportedly operating in the northern Arabian Sea, positioning Britain to respond quickly if the conflict escalates.
HMS Anson periodically surfaces to maintain communications with the U.K.’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in London, GB News reported.
TRUMP SAYS US ‘OBLITERATED’ TARGETS IN STRIKE ON KEY IRANIAN OIL HUB
The outlet reported that Anson is typically based at Faslane in Scotland, where an Iranian man has been charged with attempting to gain entry.
The deployment was said to have come shortly after the U.K. government authorized the United States to use British military bases for defensive operations targeting Iranian missile capabilities that have threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, Downing Street said the aim of those operations was to “degrade the missile sites and capabilities” used in attacks on ships, while emphasizing that Britain does not want to be drawn into a wider regional conflict.
Tensions intensified Sunday after Iran launched two ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, according to multiple reports. Neither missile reached its target; one reportedly failed in flight, while the other was intercepted.
KING CHARLES TO ADDRESS ‘INCREASING PRESSURES OF CONFLICT’ IN SPEECH AS TRUMP CRITICIZES BRITISH PM ON IRAN
The attempted strike has raised concerns about Iran’s missile range, as Diego Garcia is roughly 2,485 miles from Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had warned Britain against supporting U.S. or Israeli military action, saying such involvement could further escalate the conflict.
Araghchi told U.K. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper that Iran views Britain’s decision to allow U.S. forces to use its bases as “participation in aggression,” according to his account of the call, the BBC reported.
IRAN’S DRONE SWARMS CHALLENGE US AIR DEFENSES AS TROOPS IN MIDDLE EAST FACE RISING THREATS
He also criticized what he described as the U.K.’s “negative and biased” approach and demanded that it cease cooperation with the United States.
The U.K. did not allow the U.S. to use its bases for initial offensive strikes against Iran but later granted permission for defensive operations in response to Iranian missile threats.
Downing Street said: “We didn’t participate in the initial strikes, and we’re not getting drawn into the wider war.”
Tehran has said it would exercise what it calls its right to self-defense if threatened.
Meanwhile, the U.K. Ministry of Defence said Sunday that Royal Air Force assets, including Typhoon jets, remain engaged in defensive operations in the region.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The ministry added that British forces have helped counter Iranian drone threats while coordinating closely with allies.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.K. Ministry of Defence for comment.
Iran chokes Strait of Hormuz with reported $2M tanker toll, regime threatens global oil supply
The Iranian regime is charging some tankers $2 million to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to further its control over the global shipping choke point, according to reports.
Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi told state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Sunday that the massive toll marks the start of a new approach to controlling the waterway, Iran International reported.
“Collecting $2 million as transit fees from some vessels crossing the strait reflects Iran’s strength,” Boroujerdi said during a television program cited by Iranian media.
The member of parliament’s national security committee also said the measure has already been implemented and reflects what he called a new “sovereign regime” in the strait after decades, the outlet said.
TANKERS TO RESUME NORMAL MOVEMENT IN MIDDLE EAST IN ‘A FEW WEEKS’ AT WORST, ENERGY SEC SAYS, ENDING OIL SURGE
“Now, because war has costs, naturally we must do this and take transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
Boroujerdi’s comments came after President Donald Trump warned Saturday that the United States could target Iran’s power infrastructure if the strait is not reopened within 48 hours.
NATO HEAVYWEIGHTS BALK AT HORMUZ MISSION AS TRUMP WARNS ALLIANCE AT RISK
“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 hours from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump said in a post shared on Truth Social.
The strait is “open to everyone” except Iran’s adversaries, Tehran’s permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization, Ali Mousavi, also told the Mehr News Agency on Sunday, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also set out Iran’s policy on X.
“The Strait of Hormuz is open to all except those who violate our soil,” he said.
TRUMP’S STRAIT SHOWDOWN: FIVE BOLD MOVES TO CRUSH THE IRAN THREAT NOW
According to Lloyds List, Iran has set up a de facto ‘safe’ shipping passage in the Strait of Hormuz and is offering vetted tankers passage in exchange for approval — and in “at least one case, a reported $2m payment,” it said.
Several governments, including China, India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Iraq are in talks with Tehran over ship transit, as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard sets up a new system to register “approved” vessels for safe passage, the outlet reported.
OIL, GAS PRICES JUMP AS TRUMP FLIRTS WITH STRIKING IRANIAN OIL INFRASTRUCTURE
Maritime intelligence firm Windward AI reported Sunday that Strait of Hormuz traffic was “near collapse”, with only “16 AIS-visible crossings recorded over the past seven days.”
Transit is controlled increasingly stringently, with vessels rerouting via Iran’s territorial waters, the firm said, noting that Gulf energy exports continue to decline, with crude and LPG flows at recent lows.
“Iranian exports remain active, supported by alternative routing and sustained on-water volumes,” Windward said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The strait normally handles about 20 million barrels of oil per day and roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade. The closure has driven up shipping and insurance costs, pushed oil prices higher, and raised global economic concerns.
Russian crude volumes remain elevated, reinforcing continued reliance on maritime energy transport, Windward said.