Hakeem Jeffries Embroiled In Hilarious ‘Photoshop’ Scandal

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is a man of the people — or at least his social media accounts do their best to make viewers believe that.

The top House Democrat posted over the holiday weekend a “relatable” picture showing him leaning against a park bench, one foot casually kicked up and holding his relaxed posture. Jeffries sports a long-sleeved Adidas track shirt and a cross necklace that complements his swaggering smile and aviator sunglasses.

“Home sweet home,” he wrote on Instagram.

But it wasn’t long before other social media users noticed that the photo appeared to be manipulated. One pointed to a “wavy” park bench that was most likely altered to affix Jeffries in front of it.

“Hakeem Jeffries tried to make a super relatable post on his Instagram, but he is so photoshopped everyone noticed the entire BENCH is WARPED,” FLVoiceNews’ Eric Daugherty wrote on X.

“Utter clown show, he thought no one would notice.”

By Monday, the trolls were piling on as the internet pilloried Jeffries for his handicapped photography skills.

“Get your account back from whoever hacked it…” wrote conservative influencer Kimberly Klacik.

“You’ve got a terrible social media team, my man. Work on those editing skills,” another joked.

A third asked, “Bro why did you photoshop your hips? Or are park benches in BK wavy like that.”

Few progressives, meanwhile, were willing to give Jeffries a pass on issues more pertinent to them, namely, support for mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

“Now that you’re home you can start getting behind Mamdani,” one person wrote.

Others accused the House leader of undermining Palestinians.

“Why do you take AIPAC money?” an Instagram user replied.

Jeffries arrived back in the Bronx after watching his party be steamrolled by Republicans during passage of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax cut bill last week. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) passed the legislation for a second time despite total Democratic opposition.

Just hours before the vote, Jeffries begged “just four” Republicans to join his caucus in opposing the omnibus bill.

“What type of party would bring a bill to the House floor that rips away Medicaid from those in need? What kind of party would bring a bill to the House floor that literally robs food from the mouths of children, veterans and seniors? And all of this is being done to provide massive tax breaks to their billionaire donors. It’s unconscionable; it’s unacceptable; it’s un-American,” Jeffries said.

“All we need are four Republicans — just four — to show John-McCain-level courage.”

He now returns home empty-handed with little to show for the intransigence. Meanwhile, enthusiasm is building for Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has captured the hearts and minds of New York’s progressive base. Voters there are pressuring Jeffries and fellow House and U.S. Senate lawmakers to endorse him over Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent.

Andrew Cuomo, the state’s disgraced former governor, is considering a separate independent bid, sources told Politico. If that occurs, Jeffries will face additional pressure to disavow Cuomo and line up behind Mamdani, a candidate with a history of extreme, anti-Israel statements and little connection to the Democratic Party’s establishment.