America's heated political rhetoric had its temperature raised this week after President Donald Trump's chief spokesperson maligned the Democratic Party as supporting terrorism, illegal immigration and violent crime.

"This interview proved that the Democrat Party's main constituency are made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Oct. 16.

Leavitt was responding to a question about the network's one-on-one conversation with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist favored to win the November contest. Mamdani gave a deflective answer when pressed on whether Hamas should relinquish its arms as part of Trump's ceasefire deal in the Middle East.

Leavitt continued that Trump and Republicans are the ones "standing up for law-abiding Americans."

Leavitt's comments decried as 'dangerous'

The remarks were slammed by critics, who described the characterization as menacing and noted the administration is painting its opposition as dangerous ahead of this weekend's "No Kings" protests, which are expected to attract a bevy of progressive groups and Trump opponents.

"This s--- is so f---ing dangerous and everyone on the Republican side just nods along," Dan Pfeiffer, a former communications director for President Barack Obama who co-hosts the "Pod Save America" podcast, said in an Oct. 16 post on X.

Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, said Leavitt should resign, before echoing on X that the Trump administration is trying to "make us hate each other to distract from the fact that they're robbing us all blind. It's sick."

"Most Republicans are good people. Most Democrats are good people," Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the former 2024 vice presidential nominee, said in an Oct. 15 post on X. "The White House says outrageous things to make you hate your neighbor. Your neighbor isn’t the problem. The White House is."

The clash over Leavitt's comments are the latest in a series of back-and-forth concerns about political violence being fueled by sharp language. It comes barely a month after Republicans criticized Democrats and their allies for their rhetoric in the wake of activist Charlie Kirk's assassination and roughly a week after Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones was slammed for alarming text messages that joked about shooting a state GOP leader.

“Let me be clear: I am ashamed. I am embarrassed. And I am sorry," Jones said about the texts during an Oct. 16 debate at the University of Richmond.

GOP calls weekend protests a 'hate America' rally

The White House press secretary's words also arrive a time when Americas are increasingly pessimistic about the country's ability to solve significant problems or their leaders to cross the aisle.

A New York Times and Siena University survey released this week, for example, found 64% of registered voters − including 68% of independents − believe the nation is too politically divided to solve its problems. That is far higher than the same survey five years ago, which amid a global pandemic and racial justice marches showed 42% of voters said America was too divided to solve its problems.

Woes over the country's institutions and divisive commentary are likely to be further enflamed this weekend, as thousands of U.S. communities big and small prepare for a deluge of "No Kings" protests and marches.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, for instance, described the events as being organized by a gallery of anti-American activists who despise the country.

"We call it the 'Hate America' rally that'll happen Saturday, let's see who shows up for that," he said. "I bet you see pro-Hamas supporters. I bet you see antifa types. I bet you see the Marxists in full display, the people who don't want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic."

Other GOP lawmakers, such as Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Michigan, described the groups organizing the event, which include the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood, as the people who "cheer for chaos instead of country."

But protest organizers, who say they are feeling a mix of excited and nervous energy, aren't backing down.

They are casting the weekend as a celebration of free speech and the right to assemble. They are also using it to spotlight the president's agenda, which has gained Trump a net negative in approval ratings, particularly in regard to the deployment of the National Guard in U.S. cities.

The Times/Siena poll, for instance, found that 48% of registered voters, including 54% of independents, said Trump is "bad for democracy", compared to 33% who said the president was "good for democracy."

Contributing: Sarah D. Wire, BrieAnna J. Frank

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Critics blast Trump spokeswoman remarks ahead of 'No Kings' protests

Reporting by Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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