Rep. Barbara Lee Barbara Jean LeeSteph, Ayesha Curry to be recognized by the Congressional Hunger Center Democrats unveil plan declaring racism a public health issue With Biden, advocates sense momentum for lifting abortion funding ban MORE (D-Calif.) on Sunday doubled down on her criticism of President Trump's incoming chief of staff John Kelly John Francis KellyMORE as being extremist, ripping his immigration policy enforcement.

She clarified remarks she made on Friday in which she called the retired general an "extremist," saying she was referring to Kelly's tenure as Homeland Security chief.

ADVERTISEMENT

"What I'm talking about is his tenure as Homeland Security secretary and the very extreme policies of promoting family dislocation, deportation of innocent men, women and children, breaking up families, promoting a Muslim ban, promoting a wall between the United States and Mexico. Those are extreme policies," Lee told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" on Sunday.

"So this is very troublesome to me to have this kind of power centralized in the White House because these are very serious matters and extreme policies," she continued.

Lee called Kelly "an extremist" in a tweet on Friday after Trump announced the DHS chief would be replacing Reince Priebus as chief of staff.

By putting Gen John Kelly in charge, Pres Trump is militarizing the White House & putting our executive branch in the hands of an extremist. — Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) July 28, 2017

Lee told Tapper while she disagrees with Kelly's stance as DHS head, she honors and related to his military service.

"I come from a military family. My dad served in World War II and Korea, and so I respect and honor the military, and recognize the sacrifices that all of our military men and women make, as well as General Kelly and his history and his sacrifices," she said.

Kelly starts in his new position on Monday.