White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a sharply ironic response this week to controversial remarks from freshman Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), who labeled Trump supporters as “mentally ill.”
Asked about the remark during a press briefing on Thursday, Leavitt replied, “She is a rising star … I hope that she continues to be, for the Republican Party at least.”
She also condemned the congresswoman, stating that her remark was an insult to the millions of Americans who struggle with mental health issues.
“It’s incredibly derogatory to accuse nearly 80 million Americans of mental illness. The last time I checked, Jasmine Crockett couldn’t DREAM of winning such a majority of the public as President Trump did,” Leavitt said.
The comment came after Crockett’s appearance on Katie Couric’s “Next Question” podcast on Wednesday, where she made sweeping claims about Americans who support President Donald Trump.
“We’ve got a mental health crisis in this country because everyone, no matter how you affiliate yourself, should be against Trump, period,” Crockett said.
Leavitt’s remarks suggest that the White House sees Crockett’s increasingly unfiltered commentary as politically advantageous for Republicans heading into 2026.
Crockett, a member of the far-left “Squad,” has drawn attention in recent months for a series of incendiary statements and confrontational appearances.
During the podcast interview, Crockett also claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris was “way more qualified” than Trump to lead the country, asserting that Trump’s success in the 2024 election stemmed from being “an old white man.”
Her comments extended to the military as well.
“My heart breaks for service members… now, literally, the very thing that they signed up to fight against is now their commander-in-chief,” she said.
This isn’t the first time the Texas Democrat has faced criticism for personal attacks, as previously reported by Resist the Mainstream.
Crockett previously referred to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who uses a wheelchair, as “Governor Hot Wheels,” a jab that generated widespread condemnation.
She has also claimed that “white supremacists” are responsible for 80 percent of the most serious crimes in the U.S., a claim not supported by available federal data, according to Trending Politics.
During a commencement speech at a historically black college earlier this year, she advised graduates to “use a chair”—a comment many interpreted as a reference to recent violent viral fights.
Her remarks have earned her praise in progressive circles but have also prompted mockery and backlash across conservative media and online platforms.
Republican voters have pointed to Crockett as emblematic of what they see as the Democratic Party’s divisive rhetoric.
Conservative voices on X reacted swiftly.
Conservative commentator Mike Eagleman wrote, “The real mental health crisis is Trump Derangement Syndrome, and poor Jasmine has stage 10 TDS.”
Conservative podcaster Alec Lace added, “Imagine the party that thinks men can give birth calling someone else mentally ill?”
Other users echoed the sentiment, with one stating, “I hope they keep trotting her out. The best PR for the Republican Party ever.”
Another added, “She is so funny. A true friend of Republicans retaining the moderate vote. Keep her out front please.”
Crockett’s rising profile has drawn comparisons to other progressive firebrands like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), though critics argue her media moments often do more to energize Republican voters than build broad-based support, according to TP.
With Leavitt’s comment now drawing fresh attention to Crockett’s statements, Republicans appear content to let the congresswoman continue building her platform—believing it only strengthens their own message.
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