House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) holds a press briefing.
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00:00Afternoon everyone. George Washington in his farewell address to the nation made the important
00:12observation that the Constitution is sacredly obligatory upon all. That means everyone in the
00:23United States of America has a responsibility to follow the Constitution. That includes presidents
00:31of the United States of America. That includes you Donald Trump. There is nothing unclear about it.
00:41Why does Donald Trump make such ridiculous statements? Like he's unsure as to
00:53whether he has a responsibility to follow the Constitution. Why is the Republican Party stuck
01:01with Marjorie Taylor Greene as their candidate for the United States Senate seat in Georgia?
01:11Why is the top thing that House Republicans going to do this week on their legislative agenda
01:20renaming the Gulf of Mexico? It's because Donald Trump and House Republicans are on
01:29the run. They're on the run. They're on the run with respect to the economy. They are crashing
01:37the economy in real time and driving us toward a recession. Donald Trump and House Republicans
01:44have nothing good to say about the economy. They promise to lower costs and to drive down the
01:52high cost of living in the United States of America. Costs aren't going down. They're going
01:57up. House Republicans haven't passed a single bill that has anything to do with lowering the
02:05of the high cost of living in the United States of America. Not a single bill, no executive order,
02:11no administrative action coming from this administration. They're crashing the economy in real time driving
02:17us toward a recession. Donald Trump and Republicans are on the run with respect to the economy.
02:27They're on the run with respect to health care. They want to enact the largest cut to Medicaid
02:34in American history. It's deeply unpopular, which is why they have been ordered not to hold town
02:41hall meetings. Democrats are running toward our constituents and House Republicans are running
02:48away from them. Republicans are on the run as it relates to Social Security. They believe that Social
02:55Security is a Ponzi scheme. They're trying to end Social Security as we know it. Democrats are here to
03:02protect and strengthen Social Security. So when you have Republicans in barely a hundred days on the
03:13run, on the economy, on health care, and on Social Security, ridiculous statements are made or they're left
03:22with scratching the bottom of the barrel as it relates to candidates for U.S. Senate seats.
03:30Democrats and they're forced to cancel hearings like Republicans were compelled to do this week because
03:40they have nothing of value or substance for the American people. They are on the run
03:49and Democrats are going to keep the pressure on. Questions?
03:56Thank you, Leader. Last week, Congresswoman Elhan Omar cursed out a reporter for asking a question about
04:02House Democrats traveling to El Salvador. Do you condemn her rhetoric?
04:07Is it appropriate for Donald Trump to attack people the way that he has repeatedly attacked folks? This is the President of the United States of America. That's the question that I'd be happy to answer at any point in time because his statements have been in the public domain that have been outrageous,
04:31outrageous, unethical, filled with lies for eight years and I'm in a pretty comfortable place because we're all familiar with them.
04:41I didn't see that exchange with Elhan Omar.
04:44Mr. Jeffries, thank you. AOC said last week that she is weighing a bid to be the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee. Will you support your fellow New Yorker if she decides to make that move and run for that seat?
05:01And also, could you talk about Jerry Connelly, who currently holds that position and sort of his legacy here in the Congress? He has served, I think, during your entire tenure here in the House of Representatives.
05:17Well, Jerry Connelly has been a tremendous member of the House and a very forceful representative for the people that he serves in Northern Virginia.
05:30He's still a member of Congress. He's on leave as it relates to his position as the top Democrat on the Oversight position. And so we'll see what decisions Jerry Connelly makes moving forward.
05:44We're praying for him. He's in the battle of his life, as he has indicated. And we'll see, you know, what decisions he makes moving forward.
05:56If there's a vacancy at some point, which we know there will be based on the fact that Representative Connelly has said he's not seeking reelection, then there will be a number of strong candidates who will move forward.
06:11Representative Ocasio Cortez will, of course, be a very compelling candidate for she to make that decision to run.
06:18Thanks.
06:20Good afternoon. Thank you. We've talked a lot about the numbers here and the tight margin. We're talking about to Mr. Connelly right now and his health concerns and he's out. Lost a couple of members here. What are you saying to members to say, look, you know, we know they have problems on their side of the aisle. We move forward on this big, beautiful, big, grand, get all their people on board here. Having everybody here every single day and then, you know, things follow your direction. You might be able to stop some of this on the floor.
06:36Well, House Democrats continue to show up as was the case during every single vote of consequence.
06:56When able, like every single House Democrat voted against the reckless Republican budget, the big, ugly bill that they are trying to jam down the throats of the American people in late February, as well as most recently in late February.
07:18You had Brittany Patterson, who because Republicans refused to allow new members to vote remotely, even though the technology exists to do it and it's not a partisan issue.
07:30It's not a Democratic issue or Republican issue. It's an issue that applies to everyone.
07:36But because Republicans refused to allow Brittany Patterson to vote remotely, even though the majority of members of the House would support that.
07:46Brittany got on a plane from Colorado, brought her infant son Sam with her in order to make sure that she was present to cast a vote against the Republican effort to decimate the health care of the American people.
08:05And at the same time, Kevin Mullen literally, who had just had several surgeries, including complications from one related to his knee, got on a plane from Northern California, flew across the country with his wife so that she could change his IV mid air on the plane in order to make it.
08:29I don't think House Democrats need any motivation beyond standing up for their constituents in the face of this reckless and dangerous and extreme Republican budget that they're trying to jam down the throats of the American people.
08:45We have showed up. We'll continue to show up and stand up and speak up on behalf of the American people.
08:51Thanks.
08:52Teacher Appreciation Week and tomorrow's Teacher Appreciation Day. Can you talk a little bit about your favorite teachers growing up? And then in addition to that, black men make up just 1% of the teacher workforce. Is there anything that the federal government can do to increase the number of black men?
09:09Well, one, we certainly look forward to continuing to celebrate our educators, including those who are members of Congress, like representative Johanna Hayes, who was the educator of the year several years back.
09:27I'm very proud of her and several others like Greg Lansman and many, many others who have been educators throughout their careers. And we know Frederick Douglass once made the observation, it is easier to build strong children than it is to repair broken men.
09:45And of course, broken women. And so the United States of America has to continue to celebrate and lift up our public schools, our educators and our capacity to make sure that people receive a first rate education.
10:00So that they have a pathway into the American dream.
10:04So that they have a pathway into the American dream.
10:06Publicans are trying to actually decimate public schools by shutting down the Department of Education. The contrast couldn't be any clearer.
10:16I've had several consequential teachers throughout the years. I'll refrain from mentioning any of them. I still have to get reelected every other year.
10:26And so I'm not going to choose sides other than to say I'm thankful for my elementary school teachers, my high school teachers and those that I met and learn from in terms of higher education.
10:38I think, you know, studies have consistently shown that having a diverse group of educators, which would include African American educators and men in particular,
10:50where there has been a shortage, particularly in many urban communities across the country is something that would benefit everyone, particularly in places like many of the neighborhoods that I represent. Thanks.
11:05Well, it's certainly something that I think we're all invested in looking into as it relates to the ability of the American people to be able to travel in an efficient way.
11:25We do know that the Trump administration has decimated the FAA in a variety of different ways, and they've been doing this from the very beginning. They are breaking the federal government.
11:37And as part of breaking the federal government, the Trump administration is breaking the FAA and whether the specific situation is at Newark Airport has anything to do with that remains to be seen.
11:49But it's my expectation that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will look into this situation, that we should get some answers and figure out how to get it turned around.
12:01I flew out of Newark earlier this morning, and there is a long delay. Many flights have been canceled, and for those that are not canceled, there is a long delay.
12:11Part of the challenge at Newark, of course, is that there's only one runway at this particular point in time, and whether that runway situation has to do with air traffic controllers and a shortage, you know, it all needs to be figured out.
12:25Thanks.
12:26Thank you, Mr. Leader. Earlier today, Trump alluded to the idea of tariffs on foreign films because he has not come to a final decision.
12:33But in recent years, movies, TV shows, they have moved out of the United States. What policies or steps do you want to see from the federal or state level to help bring movies, TV shows back to the United States, keep the United States, whether it's Hollywood, Georgia, or New York?
12:47Well, the film and television tax credit that has existed for a while in New York has been an important part of continuing to sustain and grow domestic film and TV production.
12:59And I certainly think that using the tax code in that way is actually a positive way to incentivize as much production as possible in the United States of America.
13:12In terms of this idea or that idea that Donald Trump continues to throw out there, again, it's all a distraction from the fact that Donald Trump's first 100 days have been a debacle.
13:28He has failed the American people. The core promise that Donald Trump made and that Republicans made to the American people on the campaign trail repeatedly was that they were going to fix a broken economy and drive down the high cost of living.
13:48In fact, Donald Trump said that costs would go down on day one. The reason why he's the most unpopular president in modern American history after the first 100 days, despite all of the big talk of a mandate and the Democratic Party being in retreat, is that he has failed on the economy.
14:11On the economy.
14:12And Republicans have failed on the economy. And so all the random stuff that gets thrown out there, which is not how policy should be made in a sound manner.
14:24All the random stuff that gets thrown out there. I mean, it's just hard to take it seriously. And it's hard to evaluate it outside of the context of Donald Trump trying to distract the American people from the fact that he's been a failure as president. The House Republicans are failing. They are completely in retreat. They are canceling.
14:51Committee hearings.
14:54Committee hearings.
14:55Committee hearings.
14:56They keep blowing through their own deadlines. Originally, this big, ugly bill was supposed to be enacted by early April.
15:05We're now in May. They're canceling hearings. They said, well, we're going to get this done by Memorial Day. That ain't happening either.
15:16And it's because the American people view these Republican policies as dangerous and harmful and Republicans haven't figured out how to break away from being a rubber stamp for Trump's extreme agenda. And that's why we're seeing this level of paralysis.
15:38Thank you, Mr. Leader. There's some preliminary discussions about carve-outs for small businesses or farmers as it relates to the economic impact of the tariffs. Do you support the House Democrats, of course, some sort of relief, some sort of emergency assistance? Should it come to that based on how the economy is moving towards recession because of the Trump tariffs?
16:04Donald Trump and House Republicans are crashing the economy in real time, raising the cost of living, hurting farmers, hurting small businesses and hurting everyday Americans and driving us toward a recession. The best thing that could be done is for Donald Trump and House Republicans to change direction. None of this was promised or talked about.
16:26I think we were promised what a golden age in the United States of America, not a recession.
16:33But that's what Republicans are bringing about. So yes, we're going to continue to stand up for our farmers.
16:41But the farmers also need relief from the reckless approach to the economy that is actively hurting them and the American people. Thanks.
16:56Thank you, Leader. We hear a lot from Republicans who would like for Democrats to keep talking about the immigration issue because they feel it's an issue that the majority of Americans are on their side with. Do you think Democrats have learned anything from the previous election cycle?
17:11Poll after poll after poll after poll after poll after poll now actually has Donald Trump underwater on the immigration issue?
17:18Do you think this is a good thing that they're coming back and still being involved in politics and do you want to see more from them and what would you like to see more of in the future?
17:36Well, you know, Joe Biden and Joe Biden and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, as they've indicated, they're still citizens, they still care about this country.
17:46And, you know, if they have something to say, they're going to say it as House Democrats.
17:50We're going to continue to keep our focus on the economy on driving down the high cost of living.
17:56On protecting and strengthening Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and saving these important parts of the fabric of America from reckless Republican attacks.
18:11Thank you, Leader. Two of your more vulnerable members are now running for the Senate, Congresswoman Angie Craig and Congresswoman Chris Papas.
18:21And I know that Cook Political Report moved Angie Craig's district more in favor of Republicans.
18:26Do you see this as a potential liability for Democrats next year, especially given the severe margins?
18:33We're going to hold both seats.
18:35I didn't see President Trump's attacks. I haven't had an opportunity to talk to Jasmine, but of course, we'll make sure that she has all the protection, both locally and in Washington, D.C., that she needs.
18:58Do you and Senator Booker have anything else planned for moving forward?
19:09To the extent we do, we'll announce that at a time and date of our choosing.
19:14Thanks.
19:15Mr. Jeffrey, how do you feel about the Senate stablecoin bill?
19:21Haven't had an opportunity to take a look at it.
19:25Do you favor giving that industry a more favorable regulatory regime than what they've done now?
19:32I think the current situation where there is no regulation will become increasingly untenable.
19:39But I think whatever happens has got to be done in a bipartisan way, which is what, as I understand it, the Democratic senators are trying to achieve.
19:49Last question.
19:50Thank you, Mr. Leader.
19:51So now we have President Trump's budget proposal for funding the government and we have budget reconciliation.
19:56How are House Democrats kind of showing the difference between these two, talking to constituents, and have you seen, for example, Congressman Lawler's comments regarding affordable energy and his concerns on cuts to that?
20:09I have not seen.
20:10I have not seen Representative Lawler's comments on affordable energy.
20:14I don't know whether they were made at his very active town hall meeting, but do look forward to seeing those things.
20:21And I commend those Republicans who actually are having town hall meetings because the overwhelming majority of them are running away from them.
20:28But nonetheless, every single one of them are actively supporting, including Representative Lawler, Trump's extreme agenda.
20:38And it's all part of the same thing.
20:40Right?
20:41The budget, the reconciliation, the appropriations process.
20:45It's all part of an extreme Republican agenda that they are trying to jam down the throats of the American people without engaging in any effort to solve problems on behalf of hardworking American taxpayers in a bipartisan manner.
21:02And the American people are seeing the extremism, rejecting it.
21:08It is deeply unpopular.
21:11It's why Donald Trump is underwater in terms of his approval ratings, and that has happened in record time.
21:19And it's also why every single generic ballot, including most recently Fox News, has had Democrats up in Fox News by seven points.
21:31Because the American people understand that Donald Trump and House Republicans have broken their promises to them to make life better.
21:46And we're going to continue to be very clear with the American people.
21:51We hear you.
21:52We see you.
21:53We feel you.
21:54House Democrats are determined to make life better for you.
21:57Thank you, everyone.
22:03Please, for reading by requirements, we see you at the same time.
22:08Aren't you not entirely the same if we let in the traditional elections by the otherels?
22:10Let's see you.
22:12Okay.
22:13Where do you know that as well?
22:14Here's the same.
22:15Here's the same time.
22:16It is.
22:17It is.
22:18I keep it.
22:19Bye answer.
22:20Let's see you.
22:21Yeah.
22:22No!
22:24Next is the same stage.