Journalist Rula Jebreal Sparks Outrage After Calling Hakeem Jeffries an 'AIPAC Monkey'
Journalist Rula Jebreal faced widespread condemnation from Democratic lawmakers and the Congressional Black Caucus after using racist slurs against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during a podcast appearance.
A severe political storm has erupted in the United States following offensive remarks by journalist Rula Jebreal, known for her fierce criticism of Israel. During an appearance on "The Left Hook" podcast, Jebreal referred to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries—one of the most prominent and influential Black politicians in the country—as an "AIPAC monkey" and a "delivery boy."
The comments triggered a wave of condemnation from Democratic lawmakers and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), who labeled the rhetoric as overtly racist. Amid the public backlash, Jebreal issued a public apology for her choice of words, though she did not back down from her criticism of Jeffries' ties to the pro-Israel lobby.
The Podcast Incident
The incident occurred during an interview conducted by podcast host Wajahat Ali. The conversation focused on US support for Israel and the relationship between Washington lawmakers and AIPAC, the primary lobby group working to strengthen US-Israel relations. During the discussion, Jebreal chose to target Jeffries personally:
"His name is Hakeem. 'Hakeem' is an Arabic name that means 'healer.' He is not a healer, he is a divider. He is a monkey bought and paid for by AIPAC. With all due respect—and I don't mean this in a racist way. He is basically a delivery boy, and we are sick of it."
The host immediately interrupted the flow of the conversation to address the severity of her words:
"I know you corrected yourself, Rula, but I just want to address this. Using the word 'monkey' toward a Black person carries terrible racist connotations. But I think you caught yourself and said you didn't mean it out of racial animus."
In response, Jebreal attempted to explain her choice of words by referencing a common metaphor:
"I didn't mean that. There are those three monkeys—one, I can't hear, I can't see, I can't speak. It reminds me of those three monkeys."
Congressional Backlash and Accusations of Double Standards
The explanation failed to calm the storm, drawing a sharp and unequivocal condemnation from the Congressional Black Caucus:
"To be clear, there is no non-racist way to call Leader Jeffries—a Black man—a 'monkey' or a 'delivery boy.' This is what happens when we set the bar so low for what is permissible in our discourse—people feel comfortable being openly racist. We must stop platforming and mainstreaming anti-Black racism, whether it comes from the political right or the left."
Other prominent Democratic members of Congress joined the condemnation. Congressman Joe Neguse noted that such blatantly offensive and racist rhetoric must be condemned by everyone across the political spectrum.
Congressman Ritchie Torres launched an even harsher attack, pointing out a double standard on the political left:
"Calling a Black man a 'monkey' is racist. Period. If Wajahat Ali and Rula Jebreal were on the far right, no one on the far left would have any trouble condemning them for dehumanizing a Black man with racist tropes. The silence is deafening."
Apology and Continued Criticism
Following the viral spread of the clip and intense public backlash, Jebreal released a public apology, admitting the term was entirely unacceptable while continuing to attack Jeffries' policy stance:
"I am disgusted and appalled that Hakeem Jeffries takes money from AIPAC in the midst of Israel's genocide in Palestine. However, the term I used to describe him was inappropriate and offensive, and should never have been said. I apologize unconditionally."
