Clara Jeffery, the editor-in-chief of Mother Jones, sparked a wave of criticism for her public comment about a flight attendant's pleasant farewell at the end of a flight. In her post on X, she claimed that the flight attendant’s blessing was indicative of "creeping Christian nationalism" and suggested that there were numerous alternative adjectives that could have been used instead of "blessed."

This comment did not sit well with many social media users, including Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen, who sarcastically questioned Jeffery's sensitivity, suggesting it was unfortunate to be offended by a polite gesture. The post quickly garnered over three million views, leading to a barrage of comments from both liberal and conservative figures who expressed disbelief that someone would take issue with a courteous send-off.

In her original post, Jeffery included a remark from her rowmate, asserting that the comment from the flight attendant was out of place. Despite her criticism, many people came to the defense of the flight attendant's wishing them well. Armand Domalewski, a campaign fundraiser, stated that wishing others a "blessed" day is simply a kind expression, and contrary to Jeffery's implication, it should not be perceived as offensive.

Through the exchange, controversy grew as some highlighted Jeffery's previous comments where she endorsed similar expressions herself. Critics called her reaction disproportionate, with one commentator questioning whether she also found the phrase "bless you" offensive when used after someone sneezes. Overall, the situation highlighted the clash between personal beliefs and expressions of goodwill in social interactions.