Politics can be brutally serious, but every now and then it turns into theater. Wednesday’s performance came courtesy of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which decided that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries deserved flowers—not to celebrate a victory, but to mourn one.
Or rather, three of them.
The NRCC posted photos on X showing a flower arrangement and a sympathy card delivered to Jeffries’ office following Tuesday night’s Democratic primary elections in New York. It was an unmistakable jab at the Democratic leader after several establishment-backed candidates fell to challengers endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose influence within the party continues to grow.
🌹Special delivery for Hakeem Jeffries
Please ‘enjoy’ our Condolences for your incumbents who got crushed by Zohran Mamdani-backed, America-hating Socialists last night
The Democrat Party now: full socialist takeover, defund police, open borders & anti-🇺🇸 extremism pic.twitter.com/0h0H4PztPy
— NRCC (@NRCC) June 24, 2026
The accompanying message left little room for subtlety.
“Special delivery for Hakeem Jeffries,” the NRCC wrote. “Please ‘enjoy’ our condolences for your incumbents who got crushed by Zohran Mamdani-backed, America-hating Socialists last night.”
The post went on to argue that the Democratic Party has embraced a platform defined by socialism, calls to defund police, open-border policies, and what Republicans described as anti-American extremism.
Whatever label one chooses, Tuesday’s results represented a significant victory for Mamdani’s political movement.
Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, both members of the Democratic Socialists of America, won their primary contests. Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander also defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman, delivering one of the night’s biggest surprises. Of the three races, only Avila Chevalier’s contest was especially competitive, while the others ended in convincing fashion.
NEW: The @NRCC has delivered flowers and a condolences card to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) DC office after the House candidates he endorsed lost to Mamdani-backed socialists in NY last night.
NRCC statement to @FoxNews:
“Three losses in one night is tough. We… pic.twitter.com/tBhVrRZYzH
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) June 24, 2026
For many observers, the results reflected another shift in the balance of power inside New York’s Democratic Party, where progressive candidates continue to challenge more traditional establishment figures.
Republicans wasted no time trying to capitalize on that narrative.
NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella added another layer to the joke in comments to Fox News.
“Three losses in one night is tough,” Marinella said. “We wanted so-called ‘Leader’ Jeffries to know our thoughts are with him, his candidates, and whatever remains of his influence in the Democrat Party.”
Hakeem Jeffries had a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad night.
And he still won’t denounce these anti-American, anti-Semitic radicals.
Neither will Kathy Hochul.
The only way to fight back is to fire these cowards and vote Republican up and down the ballot in November. https://t.co/sUyvHFHNzx
— New York GOP (@NewYorkGOP) June 24, 2026
The New York Republican Party joined the pile-on with its own social media post.
“Hakeem Jeffries had a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad night,” the state GOP wrote, borrowing the title of the classic children’s book. The party also criticized Jeffries and Gov. Kathy Hochul for declining to denounce Mamdani-backed candidates, urging voters to support Republicans in November.
The trolling worked because it highlighted a real political question.
