Hakeem Jeffries Slams Trump's Speech to Congress as 'Disgrace'
Speaking to reporters in Virginia, Jeffries pulled no punches: "That was a disgraceful performance, Donald Trump hit a new low."
The criticism followed Trump's longest presidential address to Congress to date — clocking in at approximately one hour and 47 minutes — during which he declared the U.S. is "winning again" and touted what he characterized as landmark achievements of his administration.
The Democratic leader dismissed the sweeping speech as hollow and devoid of direction, arguing it offered nothing of value to ordinary Americans.
"He didn't communicate anything meaningful to the American people. There was no substance in that speech, but a lot of snake oil, no vision for the future of the country, but a lot of vitriol," Jeffries said.
He further charged that rather than presenting actionable policy, Trump's address amounted to little more than partisan posturing — one "full of partisanship" with no prescriptions to improve everyday lives.
"At State of the Union, speech by Donald Trump was a disgrace," he added.
'It's unpresidential, unpatriotic and un-American'
Pressed on the Democratic Party's formal response to Trump's speech, Jeffries defended it as "appropriately restrained and forceful."
The evening was not without dramatic disruption. Congressman Al Green was removed from the chamber at the very start of Trump's address after brandishing a protest sign reading, "Black people aren't apes" — a direct reference to a video Trump had shared earlier this month on his Truth Social platform that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Jeffries stood firmly behind Green's act of protest, calling it "both appropriate and restrained."
"Now, his message that he communicated was obviously on point," he said.
When reporters pressed Jeffries on Trump's calls for the swift deportation of two female Muslim members of Congress, the Minority Leader condemned the remarks without hesitation.
"It's sadly not surprising, but it's disgraceful. It's unpresidential, unpatriotic and un-American, but that's Donald Trump," he said, labeling the rhetoric as overtly xenophobic and beneath the dignity of the office.
Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar were also at the center of Tuesday's turbulence, repeatedly interrupting Trump during his remarks to protest the deaths of Americans at the hands of federal immigration enforcement officers.
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