Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., suggested that higher-earning Americans were the real «enemy» during a campaign rally headlined by a far-left social media influencer on Tuesday.

«I see other people who are fighting like hell to make you feel like your enemy is sitting next to you,» Lee said in a video posted by The Washington Free Beacon. «That your enemy is somebody who worships differently than you are, or looks differently than you are, comes from a different socioeconomic background than you, unless they are the upper class.»

«They only have the politics of fear and division and destruction and disruption. They need us to keep our focus away from the people who have participated in the biggest sex trafficking ring in our country,» Lee continued, appearing to reference the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. «I need you to instead lead and learn and live in your power.»

Lee, a left-wing lawmaker affiliated with «the Squad,» made the remarks during a campaign event she participated in to boost Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., another «Squad» member who is supporting El-Sayed, was in attendance.

ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT CONDEMNS PARTY MEMBERS RALLYING WITH FAR-LEFT STREAMER HASAN PIKER

El-Sayed, who is running with the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is viewed as the most progressive candidate in the state’s three-way Democratic primary.

Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who once said «America deserved 9/11,» headlined the rally. Piker has also drawn backlash from both parties over his comments on the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, the Israeli government and the Chinese Communist Party, which critics have called antisemitic and anti-American.

Lee, who has repeatedly advocated for pro-Palestinian causes, doubled down on her decision to appear at the campaign event with Piker in a statement obtained by the outlet City & State Pennsylvania.

«At a moment when Donald Trump is threatening catastrophic violence against Iran and saying ‘a whole civilization will die tonight,’ our priorities are deeply out of step if this is what some choose to focus on,» Lee said in a statement, referring to the president’s comments on Truth Social on Tuesday. «We need to invite young people in, take them seriously, and recognize that our politics are strongest when everyday people have a real hand in shaping them.»

«If reporters have questions about Hasan Piker’s statements, they should ask Hasan Piker,» Lee added.

El-Sayed also sought to distance himself from Piker’s statements during an interview on «Fox & Friends» on Tuesday.

Abdul El Sayed, left, pictured alongside Hasan Piker, right. (Evan Cobb for The Washington Post via Getty Images; Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

WHO IS HASAN PIKER? MEET THE FAR-LEFT STREAMER WHO IS STIRRING UP CONTROVERSY ONLINE AND DIVIDING DEMOCRATS

 «Of course I oppose rape. Of course I don’t think 9/11 was justified,» El-Sayed said. «[Just] because you appear with somebody doesn’t mean you agree with them on everything.»

El-Sayed also floated Lee as a potential leftist challenger to Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., if he decides to seek reelection in 2028. Fetterman has faced criticism from some Pennsylvania Democrats for voting with Republicans to support Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation, among other instances where he has crossed party lines.

Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., and State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Mich., El-Sayed’s primary opponents, sharply criticized his decision to campaign with Piker.

(L-R) US Representative Summer Lee, Democrat of Pennsylvania, embraces US Representative Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan, as US President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2024. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)

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«It is unacceptable for a candidate wanting to represent all Michiganders to campaign with Hasan Piker, a person who is unapologetic about a career of making hurtful and anti-Semitic comments,» Stevens said in a statement. «With all that’s at stake in this election, we should be focused on the challenges Michiganders are facing and how to fight for them.»

Fox News Digital reached out to Lee’s office for comment.

La muerte de João Guilherme Jorge Pires, un nene de 9 años de Mato Grosso do Sul, sacudió a toda la comunidad. El chico murió en la madrugada del martes 7 de abril, después de haber buscado atención médica en cinco ocasiones distintas, sin que los profesionales detectaran a tiempo la gravedad de su cuadro.

El caso quedó registrado como homicidio culposo en la Delegación de Pronto Atendimento Comunitário (Depac) del Centro, y la Policía Civil junto a la Secretaría Municipal de Salud (Sesau) investigan si hubo negligencia o fallas en los procedimientos médicos.

El calvario de João: seis días de dolor y consultas sin respuestas

Todo comenzó el 2 de abril, cuando João se cayó jugando en su casa y se golpeó la rodilla.

Sus padres lo llevaron a la Unidad de Urgencias del Hospital Tiradentes, donde le hicieron estudios y lo mandaron a casa con una receta de dipirona e ibuprofeno. Según el primer diagnóstico, no había lesiones visibles en la pierna izquierda.

Al día siguiente, el 3 de abril, como seguía con dolor, la familia lo llevó a otra guardia, en la UPA Universitário. Allí, tras otra consulta, volvió a ser dado de alta con medicación.

El 4 de abril, João regresó a la misma guardia, esta vez con dolores intensos en el pecho. La médica que lo atendió le dijo a la familia que los síntomas podían estar relacionados con ansiedad y le dio el alta.

El 5 de abril, el nene volvió a la UPA Universitário y quedó en observación. Una nueva placa reveló que tenía una fisura en la rodilla izquierda. Los médicos recomendaron ir al hospital Santa Casa para inmovilizar la pierna. Tras el procedimiento, João fue dado de alta y regresó a su casa.

El lunes 6 de abril, el cuadro empeoró. Fue trasladado inconsciente a la sala de urgencias de la UPA Universitário, donde fue reanimado e intubado; luego fue trasladado al hospital Santa Casa, pero en la madrugada del martes 7 su familia recibió la peor noticia: João había muerto de un paro cardíaco.

“Se fue agravando, fue empeorando”: el relato desgarrador de la familia

“Su estado se fue agravando, fue empeorando”, contó Michael Petrovich de Souza, cuñado de la víctima, al portal g1. Según explicó, los síntomas de João se intensificaron con el correr de los días.

El lunes a la noche, el nene se quejó de un fuerte dolor en el pecho. “Cuando entré al cuarto, estaba morado y sin aire. Prácticamente se estaba yendo en la cama”, recordó Michael.

“¿Cómo es posible que un niño sano, sin ninguna enfermedad, se fracture la rodilla y muera? No lo entendemos», dijo su tía, Adriana Soares.

La familia lo llevó de urgencia a la UPA Universitário y luego a la Santa Casa. “Llegando a la Santa Casa, fue cuestión de media hora… y ya vino la noticia de que había fallecido”, se lamentó.

Investigación y pedido de justicia

Tras la denuncia, la Policía Civil solicitó una autopsia y el caso será derivado a la Delegación Especializada de Protección a la Niñez y Adolescencia (Depca). Las autoridades analizarán la secuencia de atenciones médicas para determinar si hubo negligencia.

La Secretaría Municipal de Salud (Sesau) informó en un comunicado que el caso está bajo investigación, con revisión de la historia médica del nene. “Todas las responsabilidades serán rigurosamente verificadas y, si se identifican desvíos de conducta, se tomarán las medidas correspondientes”, aseguraron.

João Guilherme es recordado por su familia como un niño alegre, juguetón y muy querido. “Siempre estaba sonriendo y contando chistes. Dibujaba muy bien y le encantaba el fútbol. Era un chico muy cariñoso”, dijo su tía.

Su hermana, Estefany Jorge Menezes, también habló del dolor de la pérdida. “Éramos cinco, ahora somos cuatro. Va a ser muy difícil”, dijo.

João Guilherme era alumno de la Fundación Ueze Zahran, donde lo recordaron con una emotiva carta: “Deja entre nosotros recuerdos marcados por su alegría, sensibilidad y amor por la música, tocando el corazón de colegas, profesores y de toda la comunidad”.

La institución expresó su solidaridad con la familia y pidió que la memoria del pequeño siga viva “a través de la música”.

For voters feeling the sting of rising gas prices, a trip to the gas pump is becoming a daily flashpoint as midterm elections loom.

President Donald Trump touted low gas prices during his February State of the Union address, saying they had fallen «below $2.30 a gallon in most states and in some places, $1.99.»

Now, an escalating conflict with Iran is sending prices sharply higher — particularly in battleground states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Ohio. That surge is undercutting a central economic message that helped power Trump’s return to office and could reshape the political landscape as fuel costs rise in key states.

«I used to put $30 worth of gas in my car for the week — now it’s $45,» said Zafar, an Uber driver who typically fills up in Virginia, where gas prices are more than $1 higher than a year ago.

WHERE GAS PRICES ARE RISING THE FASTEST AS TRUMP’S IRAN DEADLINE LOOMS

«I have no choice — I have to support my family,» he said, adding that he can’t afford to cut back on driving despite rising gas prices.

Just weeks ago, the outlook looked very different.

The national average has climbed to $4.16 per gallon, up about 91 cents from a year ago, according to AAA, with prices rising across nearly every region.

West Coast drivers are seeing the highest costs, with prices reaching $5.93 per gallon in California and $5.39 in Washington. Meanwhile, on the East Coast, gas prices have surpassed $4 in several areas, including $4.29 in Washington, D.C., and $4.18 in Pennsylvania. 

Meanwhile, in the Midwest, Illinois stands out at $4.36 per gallon, while much of the region remains in the mid-$3 range. While Southern states remain comparatively cheaper, prices are climbing there as well, with Georgia at $3.73, Texas and Alabama at $3.84, and Florida higher at $4.18.

Oklahoma and Kansas have the lowest gas prices in the nation, at $3.34 and $3.39, respectively.

Beyond gasoline, other fuel costs are rising even faster. Diesel has climbed to $5.66, up about $1.15 over the past month. As a key fuel for freight, shipping and public transportation, it is especially sensitive to supply disruptions — and its rising cost can quickly ripple through the broader economy, pushing up prices on everything from groceries to goods.

DEMS WHO RAN ON AFFORDABILITY NOW FACE BACKLASH AS COSTS CLIMB IN NY, VIRGINIA

That kind of pocketbook pressure is exactly what Democrats have been eager to exploit. Last fall, Democrats leaned heavily on affordability themes in state and local elections, and it paid off.

In places like Virginia, New York and New Jersey, where voters have been squeezed by high housing costs and utility bills, Democratic candidates seized on Trump’s early economic moves, including his trade policy, to argue that the Republican agenda was worsening the affordability crisis rather than easing it.

That same playbook is now reemerging on a national scale, as rising fuel costs tied to the Iran war give Democrats a fresh opening to hammer Republicans on kitchen-table costs.

OIL, GAS PRICES JUMP AS TRUMP FLIRTS WITH STRIKING IRANIAN OIL INFRASTRUCTURE

Campaigns are leaning in, tying higher fuel costs to Republican policies in ads, speeches and appearances across key battleground states.

In central Pennsylvania, Janelle Stelson, a Democrat challenging Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., campaigned Monday at a Mobil gas station where prices were $4.24 for regular unleaded and more than $6 for diesel. She argued Perry, a Trump ally, bears some responsibility for worsening the cost-of-living crisis, according to The Washington Post.

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Janelle Stelson is challenging incumbent Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., a longtime Trump ally who is now having to defend rising gas prices driven by the conflict in Iran. (Michelle Gustafson for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

In Iowa, the left-leaning veterans group VoteVets is running a new $825,000 ad campaign backing state Rep. Joshua Turek’s Senate bid that highlights rising gas prices.

The message is also playing out in Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed, a liberal Democrat in a competitive Senate primary, is airing ads focused on rising gas prices. «You know why gas is so expensive? Donald Trump’s $200 billion war with Iran,» he says in one ad.

With prices rising, the cost of gas is quickly becoming a central political battleground — and a potential liability for Trump and his allies in the months leading up to the midterms.