Ritchie Torres calls Rula Jebreal's 'monkey' remark about Jeffries racist
Ritchie TorresUnited States representative
Torres said the term was racist when applied to a Black man and treated the issue as categorical.
Responding to
Jebreal’s use of “monkey” and “errand boy” to describe Jeffries was racist anti-Black language regardless of her stated intent.
“Calling a Black man a “monkey” is racist. Full stop.”
Original post
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Were Rula Jebreal’s remarks about Hakeem Jeffries racist?
During a September 2, 2026 appearance on The Left Hook, Rula Jebreal described House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries as a “bought and paid by AIPAC monkey” and “basically an errand boy,” while immediately denying racial intent. Jebreal later apologized for the terms. The Congressional Black Caucus and several lawmakers characterized the wording as racist, while Wajahat Ali and Joy-Ann Reid emphasized intent and surrounding context while also criticizing the language.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Torres rejected the qualification attached to Jebreal's wording and criticized the perceived lack of condemnation.
Reporting
About this source
Reports the disputed wording, the immediate exchange between Ali and Jebreal, and several later public responses with links to the original posts.
Before the quotation
Jebreal had denied racial intent during the original exchange.
After the quotation
Torres also criticized Ali’s handling of the exchange; Jebreal later apologized.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The statement directly and unequivocally classifies the language as racist.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Rula Jebreal, Wajahat Ali
More from this case
Read the full caseMehdi Hasan defends Jebreal: "she is not a racist or bigot"
“Rula offered an unconditional apology... Anyone who knows Rula... knows she is not a racist or bigot.”Read statement
Symone Sanders Townsend says Jebreal's apology ignored anti-Black history
“Without acknowledging that history, that is not an apology.”Read statement
Peter Beinart calls Jebreal's language racist, defends her wider record
“Rula Jebreal used racist language to criticize Hakeem Jeffries. Her comments were clearly wrong.”Read statement
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- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Ritchie Torres calls Rula Jebreal's 'monkey' remark about Jeffries racist
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/390-torres-said-the-term-was-racist-when-applied
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Ritchie Torres calls Rula Jebreal's 'monkey' remark about Jeffries racist". First published: 2026-09-11. Last updated: 2026-09-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/390-torres-said-the-term-was-racist-when-applied