Hakeem Jeffries press conference addresses Pete Hegseth impeachment, Donald Trump tariffs and more

[0:00] That sounds like you don't have it nailed down. Is that right? [0:02] You think I don't have the vote nailed down? [0:06] I'm asking you. You're the vote counter. [0:08] I guess we'll find out next Wednesday. [0:11] Leader Jeff, there's also a lot of consternation in the other side of the Capitol for Chuck Schumer. [0:17] Do you personally think it makes sense for Democrats to realize Chuck Schumer is a Senate Democratic leader? [0:22] Yes. Chuck Schumer was the quarterback of a team effort led by Senate Democrats, [0:32] and incredible candidates who ran all across the country, including in places like Texas and Maine and Michigan and Iowa and Kansas and South Carolina. [0:47] And I think, as we'll soon see in Alaska and in Mississippi, as well as North Carolina. [0:59] And of course, John Ossoff running a great campaign in Georgia. [1:05] I think the results of that election, the outcome, the decisive victory, speaks for itself. [1:15] But the people say they want a fresh space for leadership. [1:17] Democrats and I voting on military funding if Hegseth is still in office. [1:22] Let's take one step at a time. [1:24] Right in front of us right now is the Hegseth impeachment resolution. [1:30] I'm a hard yes, as I've made clear on the impeachment resolution. [1:36] Pete Hegseth has abused his power, undermined America's national security. [1:41] And he's the architect of the reckless and costly failed war of choice in Iran, [1:49] which has skyrocketed gas prices on everyday Americans, made the country less safe. [1:56] And Iran is stronger now than they were before Operation Epic Failure, led by Pete Hegseth, began. [2:07] Do you support this? [2:09] Thank you, Mr. Leader. [2:09] A lot of conversation has been made for leadership. [2:13] Republicans will be holding their leadership elections tomorrow. [2:17] Your Republican counterpart, Mike Johnson, has said he's not running for minority leader. [2:21] Can you just reflect on what it's been like serving with Mike Johnson over these last couple of years? [2:26] Do you have a preference for Jim Jordan versus Steve Scalise when the vote comes out tomorrow? [2:32] No preference. [2:32] That's the decision for the House Republican Conference to make. [2:36] And I have more to say about the time that Mike Johnson and I have spent in leadership together [2:43] at some point once we get free and clear of all of these leadership elections. [2:49] Thanks. [2:49] Mr. Jeffries. [2:50] I'll go to the man. [2:51] Hi. [2:52] Do the new changes over the weekend to the permitting legislation, do those sufficiently address your concerns? [2:58] Still on the review. [2:59] You've said that you can focus on affordability and accountability at the same time. [3:06] When it comes to actual policy and going forward, what's the first policy piece of legislation [3:13] that you want to drive to address specifically the issue of affordability? [3:17] And then on the accountability piece, what is the first investigation or moment of accountability [3:24] for this administration that you want to focus on? [3:26] We'll have that conversation as House Democrats beginning tomorrow when we convene as a caucus [3:32] for the first time since the election. [3:35] What I have said clearly and consistently and publicly is that there are several areas [3:42] where we'll focus on delivering right out of the gate early in the new Congress. [3:50] We have to reverse the Medicaid cuts. [3:53] We have to do everything that we can to end this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran, [3:59] which has skyrocketed gas prices, food prices, diesel prices, and the cost of everyday goods. [4:10] We need to end the tariffs that have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year. [4:19] And we certainly need to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits [4:23] because the Republicans' failure and unwillingness to do so has resulted in tens of millions of Americans [4:31] experiencing dramatically increased premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, [4:36] in some cases in excess of $1,000 per month. [4:41] That's unacceptable. [4:42] So these are clear steps that the Congress can take, Democrats in the majority, [4:51] to try to drive down the high cost of living. [4:55] Yep. [4:55] It's a conversation I look forward to having with not simply the members of the House Democratic Caucus, [5:11] but with the Senate as well to see what's possible. [5:15] It certainly needs to be increased. [5:17] It's a disgrace that the minimum wage hasn't been raised in 20 years [5:23] and is currently $7.25 per hour. [5:29] So we have to raise the wage for every single American. [5:35] And one significant step that can be taken in that direction is to raise the minimum wage. [5:40] Jeffries, the president talked about immigration and affordability. [5:51] What are your thoughts on that, and how can that be worked out, [5:55] especially when there are members of your caucus, while this could be happening, [6:01] there could be a potential impeachment as well? [6:05] We have a broken immigration system. [6:08] It needs to be fixed in a comprehensive way, and in divided government, [6:12] it needs to be fixed in a bipartisan way. [6:16] House Democrats have taken the position that we're not going to give a dime [6:20] to the administration's violent mass deportation machine [6:25] because taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, [6:31] not brutalize or kill American citizens, [6:34] and violently target law-abiding immigrant communities and families, [6:38] which is what has happened over the last two years. [6:42] That's unacceptable, unconscionable, and un-American, and it needs to come to an end. [6:48] We believe that immigration enforcement in this country, it should be fair, [6:51] it should be just, and it should be humane. [6:55] And we need to move the situation in a much better direction. [7:02] And hopefully, some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle [7:05] will be willing to do that work, [7:09] perhaps beginning with one additional signature that we need [7:14] to force a vote on the Dream and Promise Act from a Republican. [7:20] Leader Jeffries, three House committees, [7:22] they called for a closed-door briefing with NVIDIA's Jensen Huang. [7:27] If his answers aren't sufficient, [7:28] would you call for a full public congressional hearing? [7:31] There's a closed-door briefing that I think will need to take place [7:34] with members of the intelligence community [7:38] and certainly folks connected to the NVIDIA situation. [7:43] I haven't had a conversation to talk to any of the soon-to-be chairs [7:47] about their perspective on this, [7:49] but clearly, the Congress needs more information. [7:54] Is that a possibility, though, a full public congressional hearing? [7:56] We'll have a conversation about that when we have a conversation about it [7:59] subsequent to me speaking to the chairs. [8:03] If you're willing to so strongly support a rank-and-file impeachment [8:10] without a full investigative committee process that normally would happen, [8:16] how are you going to deal with it next year [8:18] when one of your own rank-and-file wants to impeach Trump the same way? [8:24] We're going to follow the facts. [8:25] We're going to apply the law. [8:25] We're going to be guided by the Constitution. [8:28] And we're going to let the chips fall where they may. [8:30] And I'm very confident that that is the process that will be undertaken [8:33] by Jamie Raskin and House committee Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, [8:40] as well as Robert Garcia and House Democrats on the Oversight Committee. [8:45] With respect to the situation with Pete Hegseth, [8:50] the so-called Secretary of Defense, it's clear as day. [8:54] He's been a failure and a disaster for the American people. [8:58] He shredded the law and the Constitution with impunity, [9:04] and there is no circumstance that justifies Pete Hegseth [9:08] continuing to hold this position. [9:12] This resolution is brought by a Republican member of Congress, [9:16] and it's my expectation that there will be Republican members of Congress [9:21] who will join in the effort to try to pass the resolution. [9:27] But he was following new orders, Commander-in-Chief. [9:32] So why wouldn't he just get he came away? [9:36] I have made clear since the spring of 2025 that Pete Hegseth, [9:46] the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in American history, has got to go. [9:54] In my view, as I communicated directly to President Trump last spring of 2025, [10:02] he should fire Pete Hegseth. [10:05] The fact that Pete Hegseth is still around makes zero sense [10:10] to a whole lot of people in this country. [10:16] And hopefully this can come to an end. [10:19] The national nightmare that has been Pete Hegseth can end this week [10:24] if the President doesn't make the decision on his own to terminate him. [10:37] There's a Four Corners conversation that is underway [10:42] between Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate [10:45] on the Appropriations Committee, led by Rosa DeLauro, [10:49] and we'll see what that yields. [10:50] Our principles will remain consistent. [10:53] At all times, we want to reach a spending agreement [10:56] that meets the needs of the American people, [10:59] particularly in the face of this affordability crisis that we're confronting. [11:03] And if there's an opportunity to enter into a spending agreement [11:07] that lifts up the health, the safety, and the economic well-being of the American people, [11:15] then that's something that I think Democrats will embrace in good faith. [11:24] But what we will not do is continue down the path [11:27] that Republicans have undertaken since the beginning of this presidency, [11:32] which is my way or the highway. [11:35] That has gotten the Republicans nowhere. [11:39] In fact, it has the Republicans in a deep deficit [11:44] and political hole with the American people. [11:48] And hopefully over the next few weeks, [11:50] they can change direction [11:52] so we can get something meaningfully done [11:56] for the American people in advance of December 11th. [12:02] Yep. [12:02] Before you all left. [12:05] Sorry, that was you. [12:06] No. [12:06] Yeah. [12:06] Then you were clean with. [12:21] We're going to end the war in Iran one way or the other, [12:24] but with respect to the appropriations process, [12:27] right now that's in the hands of Rosa DeLauro on the House side [12:32] and Patty Murray on the Senate side. [12:36] There's a lot of talk of mandates, [12:38] particular party, aggressives, the blue dogs that he is having. [12:50] How will that shape your... [12:55] When every single vote is counted across the country, [12:59] House Democrats are going to have the largest majority of any party this century. [13:05] And there's a clear mandate for House Democrats to get things done, [13:10] to make life more affordable for the American people, [13:13] to hold the crooks accountable, [13:15] and to make sure that this country can return to being the best version of herself. [13:22] Speaker Johnson says that this is the most productive Congress [13:27] because the House has passed a lot of legislation, [13:29] despite almost none of it becoming law. [13:31] What do you define as success for the 120th? [13:34] With respect to the 120th Congress, [13:39] we have a mandate to work on these issues [13:41] that are designed to make life better for the American people, [13:45] and we're committed to doing that [13:47] and bringing about change that's bold, [13:51] that's dramatic, and that's transformational. [13:55] Mr. Leader, I know you just talked about Jensen-Blob, [13:57] but just to put a finer point in it, [13:59] you had that briefing downstairs. [14:00] We know that it came up. [14:01] You said earlier that you would be asking about it. [14:03] Are you concerned by what you've seen publicly in this one case? [14:08] There are real concerns that need to be addressed [14:09] with respect to the NVIDIA situation. [14:12] The briefing was primarily about Iran [14:16] and the situation as it currently exists. [14:21] It was undertaken by the Director of National Intelligence, Jay Clayton, [14:26] and the CIA Director, John Ratcliffe. [14:30] What is clear, and the NVIDIA issue did come up, [14:34] but that we're going to need a full briefing [14:38] specifically as it relates to the NVIDIA issue [14:42] so we can all get to the bottom of what has happened [14:45] and what the implications are [14:48] in terms of America's national security. [14:51] Regarding NVIDIA, [14:54] will Democrats seek to restrict chip exports to China, [14:57] and would you support using the NDAA to do so? [15:00] There are provisions currently in the Senate version of the NDAA [15:04] that will restrict chip access to China [15:08] that I strongly support, [15:10] and I think we're going to work hard [15:12] to make sure that those provisions [15:15] make it in to the final version [15:17] of the National Defense Authorization Act. [15:19] We mentioned that no more money should be going [15:24] through the deportation machine, [15:25] but so much of ICE is already funded through 2029, [15:28] so what can the Congress do next year [15:31] to kind of maybe shift those funds around, [15:33] or what could you do about that? [15:34] We're going to have to take a look [15:37] at the one big ugly bill, [15:40] which was a disaster for the American people, [15:42] the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, [15:46] a $186 billion cut to nutritional assistance, [15:51] literally ripping food away from the mouths [15:53] of hungry children, veterans, and seniors. [15:57] ICE was given a $75 billion slush fund [16:02] so that mass agents could brutalize [16:06] and kill American citizens [16:08] and violently target law-abiding immigrant communities. [16:11] That's unacceptable, [16:12] and all of this was done [16:14] in order to provide massive tax breaks [16:19] to billionaire MAGA donors. [16:23] It certainly is the case [16:25] that we need to do everything we can [16:28] to reverse all of those harmful provisions, [16:33] including the assault on the clean energy economy [16:37] and the clean energy tax credits [16:39] that was also a part of their one big ugly bill. [16:42] So we need to reverse all of those provisions [16:44] and reallocate funding [16:47] in a way that actually is designed [16:50] to make life more affordable [16:51] for working-class families, [16:55] middle-class families, [16:56] and everyday Americans. [17:01] Debt limits have suggested [17:03] they want to address the debt limit during lame duck. [17:06] Is that something Democrats will work with them on, [17:08] and are you looking for any specific concessions? [17:10] It's not a conversation [17:11] that Speaker Johnson has brought up directly to me yet, [17:15] and we'll see what they have to say about it [17:18] in the days to come. [17:22] Thank you, Mr. Leader. [17:23] So what's your message to Democratic voters [17:26] who I know you've seen it [17:28] or they say they don't want you to be the House Speaker. [17:31] They've even called their Democratic representatives [17:33] asking them not to vote for you, [17:35] given ties to AIPAC, [17:37] and all the things you've seen. [17:39] What's your message to them? [17:41] We're going to work hard [17:41] to secure the 218 votes that are necessary. [17:47] It's in the hands of the caucus right now. [17:51] We'll have a conversation as a caucus next Wednesday [17:55] when the leadership elections begin, [17:58] and then we're going to continue from that point [18:00] to work as hard as we can [18:02] to improve the high quality of life [18:06] that the American people deserve [18:08] but do not have right now in this failed economy [18:12] and execute on all of the things [18:15] that we've talked about over the last two years, [18:19] such as the affordability agenda, [18:23] the accountability agenda, [18:25] and bringing American values to life. [18:29] There was some reporting leading up to the election [18:32] that Jared Kushner encouraged you to talk to Susie Wiles [18:35] to make a relationship with the White House Chief of Staff. [18:38] There's, of course, no more Susie Wiles. [18:40] It's Stephen Miller, who you've commented on. [18:41] Do you think he can be a viable partner for Democrats? [18:44] No. [18:48] Is there anyone in the administration [18:49] who you think can be a good legislative partner? [18:51] Stephen Miller is a stone-cold racist. [18:55] His track record speaks for itself, [18:57] and I've got zero interest [18:59] in working with that kind of individual. [19:05] Peter Jeffers, have you decided... [19:06] Directionally, we're a little bit off right now. [19:09] So, yeah, we can go here, and then I'll go to you. [19:11] Sure, thank you. [19:12] When it comes to the sort of deal-making that was discussing, [19:16] have you reached out to him [19:17] to talk about what the truth of that would be? [19:19] No. [19:19] Have you decided whether to keep [19:22] the China Select Committee in the next Congress [19:23] or to create an AI special committee or select committee? [19:26] We'll meet with some of the current top Democrats [19:32] on all of the relevant committees on Wednesday morning, [19:35] and we'll have a conversation about their thoughts [19:39] in terms of what the work ahead of us can look like, [19:42] both as it relates to foreign affairs [19:44] and certainly as it relates to AI safety, [19:47] where we have to act swiftly and decisively, [19:50] and in my view, not wait until the new Congress. [19:54] We should act as quickly as we can in this Congress. [19:58] Are Democrats all united on rolling back the Trump tariffs? [20:03] In the past, Democrats have supported some tariffs, [20:06] and would it be all the tariffs or just some of them? [20:09] We're going to work on the tariff issue in the new Congress [20:13] quickly and aggressively. [20:16] It appears as though our majority [20:19] is going to exceed 260 members or so. [20:26] That is a historic majority, [20:27] majority, and what unites everyone in that majority, [20:31] whether they are progressives, new Dems, or blue dogs, [20:35] is a shared commitment to making life more affordable [20:38] for the American people, [20:40] and that would include on dealing with the tariff issue, [20:46] which has clearly increased costs on everyday Americans, [20:50] particularly as it relates to groceries and goods, [20:53] by thousands of dollars per year. [20:56] The Trump tariffs are deeply unpopular. [20:59] The American people know that the tariffs have been [21:02] one of the reasons why toxic Republican policies [21:08] have made their life more expensive. [21:12] Thank you, Mr. Litter. [21:14] You call for accountability on corruption. [21:16] Does that same standard apply equally [21:17] to Representative Ilhan Omar [21:19] if the evidence does hold up [21:21] that she did indeed commit immigration fraud? [21:24] There's zero evidence [21:25] that Representative Omar committed immigration fraud. [21:29] This remains a right-wing conspiracy, [21:34] and I'm going to continue to stand behind [21:37] Representative Omar [21:38] as she works to actually fight on the issues [21:42] that Democrats have talked about [21:44] addressing decisively, [21:47] particularly as it relates to [21:48] our affordability agenda [21:50] and our accountability agenda. [21:51] Not to talk about the sexy subject [21:56] of the House Rules package, [21:57] but what conversations have... [21:59] I was waiting for that to come up. [22:00] What conversations have you guys had [22:02] about sexual harassment? [22:03] In particular, I know there was an effort, [22:04] and it seemed like maybe we would get [22:06] something in September, [22:07] but you all obviously left early. [22:09] Now you're poised to be speaker. [22:10] How are you going to tackle [22:11] what became a major issue [22:12] for your members this year? [22:14] It remains my hope [22:15] that we can take decisive action [22:18] in this Congress, [22:19] led by Teresa Ledger-Fernandez, [22:22] who chairs the Democratic Women's Caucus, [22:24] working with her colleagues [22:27] on the other side of the aisle. [22:29] I think there's an opportunity [22:31] to act decisively in this Congress. [22:33] We should seize it. [22:34] And separately, we've seen from polling [22:36] that what other steps [22:42] will you be taking [22:42] to be American people now that you are... [22:47] It's our view as House Democrats [22:48] that we have to clean up the mess [22:50] wherever it may be found, [22:53] in the Congress, [22:54] in the Supreme Court, [22:56] and with respect to the Trump administration. [22:59] And in cleaning up the mess [23:00] here in Congress, [23:02] one of the most decisive things [23:03] that we can do [23:04] is to ban members of the House [23:07] and Senate from trading stock. [23:11] It is our intention to do just that. [23:14] Thank you, everyone. [23:15] Thank you.