Ashley Etienne, a seasoned communications strategist who previously served as the communications director for both former Vice President Kamala Harris and ex-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has raised sharp criticisms of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. In a candid interview on Politico’s Playbook Deep Dive, Etienne did not hold back her assessment, calling out what she perceives as a lack of leadership, coordination, and decisiveness within Jeffries’ leadership of the House Democratic Caucus.

Lack of Coordination and Organizational Strength

Etienne’s critique of Jeffries centers around the absence of coordination within the House Democratic leadership. She argued that without a clear, coordinated strategy, the party’s messaging becomes ineffective and lacks substance. This criticism stems from her extensive background in Democratic communications, where she’s known for her role in Pelosi’s anti-Trump war room and as a key player in Harris’ political outreach. Etienne, drawing from conversations with multiple House Democrats, suggests that Jeffries has failed to keep the caucus unified and focused.

“If you don’t have coordination, you’ve just got words on a paper that you’re calling talking points,” Etienne remarked during the podcast. “It’s meaningless. And I think that’s where we are right now.” This pointed remark highlights what she sees as a fundamental flaw in Jeffries’ ability to lead with clarity and purpose. According to Etienne, the Democratic Party under Jeffries’ leadership lacks a structured, effective approach to messaging—an essential tool in political battles, especially when facing off against a formidable opponent like President Donald Trump.

The Dangers of Moving Away from Pelosi’s Legacy

Another significant point raised by Etienne is the current Democratic leadership’s apparent desire to distance itself from Pelosi’s legacy. She revealed that many leadership staffers on Capitol Hill are eager to break free from the Pelosi era, even at the cost of losing vital strategies that worked in the past.

“I was hearing from leadership staff that the leadership on Capitol Hill right now wants to sort of move away from that Pelosi era — that they … don’t want to embrace anyone or anything that’s like Pelosi,” Etienne shared. “Which I just think is the dumbest s-h-i-t ever.”

For Etienne, this approach is misguided and shortsighted. Pelosi’s leadership, despite its flaws, had a proven track record of success, particularly in organizing the party and maintaining a unified front against Republican opposition. Etienne’s frustration with this impulse to reject the past underlines her belief that the Democrats’ current leadership is failing to leverage the resources and strategies that worked well under Pelosi.

Jeffries’ Struggles with Decision-Making

While Etienne acknowledged that Jeffries is talented in communication, she quickly pointed out that he struggles with making key decisions when it comes to messaging and strategy. One major flaw she identified is Jeffries’ tendency to overanalyze and delay action, something that has reportedly frustrated many members of the Democratic Caucus.

“What I’ve been hearing from members is that, to sort of sum it up, he thinks too long and wrong about things. He takes too much counsel and then takes too long to make a decision,” Etienne said. She continued, “Which says that maybe you don’t trust your gut in the moment, which is also fair when you’re a new leader, cause you’re still trying to figure it all out. It might also suggest maybe you don’t have a handle on the caucus, or you don’t have a handle on how to actually land some punches on Donald Trump.”

Etienne’s analysis suggests that Jeffries’ indecision could be a sign of deeper leadership issues. As the leader of the House Democrats, Jeffries is expected to make quick and firm decisions, especially when facing off against a political adversary like Trump, who is known for his unpredictable and often combative nature.

The Protest Fiasco: A Lack of Control During Trump’s Address

Etienne also turned her attention to a recent incident during President Trump’s joint address to Congress in March, where Democratic protests erupted in what she deemed an embarrassing and ineffective display. Etienne pointed out that despite Jeffries requesting no protests during the address, Democratic lawmakers proceeded to protest in various chaotic ways, rendering the protests ineffective and fractured.