Jeffries calls testy GOP exchanges just another episode of ‘Republicans Gone Wild’

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) weighed in on Tuesday’s dustups between GOP lawmakers in both chambers, calling it “another episode of ‘Republicans Gone Wild.'”

When asked about his feelings toward the tension in the Republican party, Jeffries responded by criticizing his Republican colleagues for not focusing on more important issues than their disagreements.

“We certainly are concerned, because our focus should be on solving problems for hardworking American taxpayers,” Jeffries told MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski on Wednesday. “We’re gonna continue to fight for things like lower costs, and to grow the middle class, for safer communities, fight for reproductive freedom, defend democracy, build an economy that works for everyday Americans.”

“These are the things that we should be fighting for,” Jeffries continued. “Republicans are fighting each other, literally. Yesterday was another episode of ‘Republicans Gone Wild,’ and unfortunately, it wasn’t the season finale, because we’re gonna continue to see it.”

On Tuesday, Republicans on Capitol Hill had their fair share of moments tense exchanges.

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) accused former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) of elbowing him in a Capitol hallway and, by his own admission, chased after the California Republican.

“I was like, ‘What the heck, you know, why did you do that?’” Burchett said. 

McCarthy later denied the claim.

“I guess our elbows hit as I walked by,” McCarthy told reporters. “If I would hit somebody, they would I know hit them.”

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) almost came to blows with International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien in a Senate hearing on the same day.

“Sir, this is a time, this is a place. You want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here,” Mullin said from the hearing room dais. 

“OK, that’s fine. Perfect,” O’Brien shot back. 

“You want to do it now?” Mullin asked. “Stand your butt up then.” 

House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) also got into a spat with Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) Tuesday in a House hearing that resulted in Comer saying the Florida Democrat looked like a “Smurf.”

“Gargamel was very angry today,” Moskowitz later quipped on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, referencing the main villain of the Smurfs universe.