Ohio Rep. Shontel Brown condemned Rula Jebreal after she called House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries a “monkey.” Jebreal also described Jeffries as an “errand boy” during Wajahat Ali’s podcast. Brown called the language “reprehensibly racist” and demanded zero tolerance for racism in political discourse.
In the podcast clip, Jebreal criticized Jeffries while discussing the Democratic Party. She noted that “Hakeem” means “healer” in Arabic before calling him “a divider.” Jebreal then described Jeffries as “a bought and paid by AIPAC monkey.”
“With all due respect,” Jebreal continued, “I don’t mean it in a racist way.” She then added, “He is just basically an errand boy.” Ali did not interrupt Jebreal during those remarks.
Brown rejected that framing while responding to the video. “Calling Leader Jeffries a ‘monkey’ and an ‘errand boy’… really?” she wrote. “No subtext, no dog whistle, just easily going straight to ‘monkey’.”
“This is reprehensibly racist language that must be condemned,” Brown said. “There must be zero tolerance for racism in our political discourse. Period.”
Rula Jebreal’s Hakeem Jeffries Remarks Spark Racism Backlash
The clip triggered a broader dispute over Jebreal’s language and Ali’s response during the exchange.
“There is no nonracist way to call a Black man a monkey. None,” one user wrote. Another focused on Jebreal’s disclaimer: “If you have to clarify ‘I don’t mean that in a racist way’ when calling someone a name, probably best to not even say it at all.”
Others questioned the impact on Jebreal’s argument and Ali’s reaction. “The moment you use any kind of slur, you’ve lost your argument, and all credibility! Not okay,” one response stated. Another wrote, “And Wajahat just nods along as his guest calls Hakeem Jeffries a monkey and an errand boy for AIPAC.”
Not everyone rejected Jebreal’s criticism of Jeffries. “What is controversial? Jeffries’ actions fit Jebreal’s descriptions here,” one user wrote. A separate response stated, “exactly jeffries gotta go.”
Brown’s condemnation reflected a wider backlash as the clip circulated, with criticism focusing on Jebreal’s language and Ali’s response.
