White House Responds to LaMonica McIver’s ‘Racist’ Claims

The White House has publicly criticized New Jersey Democratic Representative LaMonica McIver following her assertion that President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” rhetoric is a coded reference to “white power.” McIver made these comments during a recent interview, amid ongoing tensions surrounding Trump’s crime policies in Washington, D.C., which she fears could lead to civil unrest in other cities governed by Democrats.

In her remarks, McIver highlighted the president’s intention to take command of D.C.’s police department and the deployment of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops. “I think there’s an ultimate agenda of this administration to do these types of things,” she stated on the “Defending Democracy with Marc Elias” podcast. Her comments reflect a broader concern about the implications of Trump’s law enforcement strategies, which she believes target urban areas led by Black mayors.

McIver specifically criticized Trump’s “Liberation Day” label, describing it as racially charged. “When he says, oh, you know, it’s Liberation Day, those are ways of him saying, oh, it’s white power,” she claimed, alleging that Trump’s focus on certain cities demonstrates his bigotry. She also accused the president of unfairly targeting sanctuary cities that support immigration policies, arguing that his actions reveal deep-seated prejudice.

The White House responded sharply to McIver’s allegations. Harrison Fields, a spokesman for the White House, dismissed her comments as a political stunt, referring to her past legal troubles stemming from an incident outside an ICE facility in Newark. “LaMonica McIver, whose claim to fame was assaulting federal agents, is an unserious person whose comments are nothing more than a political stunt,” Fields remarked. He suggested that Congress and the people of New Jersey would benefit if she focused on her apparent interest in street fighting rather than serving in public office.

McIver’s legal situation adds complexity to her political stance. In June 2023, she faced federal charges related to an alleged altercation with immigration officers, for which she has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assaulting and interfering with federal officials.

As tensions continue to rise over Trump’s crime policies and their implications for urban governance, McIver’s controversial statements have sparked debate about the intersection of race, law enforcement, and political rhetoric in the United States. The ongoing discourse reflects broader concerns regarding the administration’s approach to policing and its impact on communities across the nation.