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Great Expectations

Inside the sniping and second-guessing of Hakeem Jeffries as the Democratic leader still faces questions about his leadership and, of course, the omnipresent comparisons to Nancy Pelosi. Allies say he’s improving, but the complaints do exist. “He’s not a general,” said one senior Democratic aide, “and we’re in the fight for our lives.”

Hakeem Jeffries Nancy Pelosi
Jeffries and his team are extremely sensitive to criticism, and particularly comparisons to Pelosi—of which there have been many. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Leigh Ann Caldwell
May 25, 2025

Earlier this month, as Hakeem Jeffries was readying for his first major legislative battle with Republicans—over the multitrillion-dollar megabill that passed the House this week—Jeffries’ team found themselves temporarily distracted by a smaller, seemingly more personal attack from Ashley Etienne, a former Pelosi aide, who went on the record to rip Jeffries for his underwhelming leadership and for shutting out the Pelosi brain trust.