Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), the House Democratic Caucus chairman, blasted President Trump on Tuesday as the “fake leader of the free world” for siding with criticisms of former Vice President Joe Biden leveled by the North Korean government.
Jeffries, the fifth-ranking House Democrat, sought to highlight the lack of pushback from Republicans against Trump for endorsing attacks from North Korea on the former vice president.
“Many House Republicans wrap themselves in the flag and patriotic rhetoric,” Jeffries tweeted. “But they have nothing to say when fake leader of the free world blatantly sides with a Communist North Korean Dictator? PHONIES.”
Over the weekend, Trump tweeted that he has confidence in North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and endorsed his criticism of Biden.{mosads}
“North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me. I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me, & also smiled when he called Swampman Joe Biden a low IQ individual, & worse. Perhaps that’s sending me a signal?” Trump tweeted on Saturday.
North Korean state media has recently taken aim at Biden, with one report from last week describing Biden as “reckless and senseless, seized by ambition for power” and a “fool of low IQ.”
Trump doubled down during a news conference in Tokyo on Monday when asked if he was siding with a foreign dictator over an American vice president.
“Kim Jong Un made a statement that Joe Biden is a low IQ individual. He probably is based on his record. I think I agree with him on that,” Trump said as he stood beside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Before tearing into Trump as a “fake leader of the free world” on Tuesday, Jeffries called Trump a “studio gangster” during an appearance on “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
“Donald Trump is functionally a studio gangster. He pretends to be a tough guy, but he really is just playing that role on TV,” Jeffries said while discussing Trump’s decision last week to walk out of a meeting with Democratic leaders on infrastructure legislation. “Hopefully, he will have gotten this temper tantrum out of his system.”
Few Republicans have criticized Trump for endorsing an attack on Biden from a nation long viewed as hostile to the U.S.
Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) said Monday that it was “wrong” for Trump to criticize Biden while abroad.
“Wrong for @POTUS Trump to criticize @JoeBiden in Japan and to agree with Kim Jong-un. Politics stops at water’s edge. Never right to side with murderous dictator vs. fellow American,” King tweeted on Monday.