At 4:53 a.m. last Thursday, Hakeem Jeffries stood at the House lectern with no time constraints, reading letters from constituents in Republican districts expressing fears about President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill. The House Minority Leader warned of potential dire consequences, stating, “People will die. Tens of thousands could suffer each year due to the Republican attack on Americans’ healthcare. I never imagined I’d witness this on the House floor; it’s a crime scene.”
After an impressive eight hours and thirty-three minutes, Jeffries set a new record for the longest continuous speech in House history. Utilizing his unlimited speaking privileges under the House’s “magic minute” rule for party leaders, he aimed to delay a final vote on the Republican-backed legislation endorsing Trump’s policy objectives. House Republicans were close to passing the bill, following overnight efforts by Speaker Mike Johnson and the President to sway hesitant GOP members.
Jeffries’ marathon speech was a final push by Democrats to highlight the stark consequences of Trump’s legislation before the expected vote on Thursday, possibly setting the tone for their messaging leading up to the 2026 midterms. Describing the bill as a betrayal of working-class Americans, Jeffries emphasized that it was far from a ‘Big, Beautiful Bill.’
The legislation sought to fulfill many of Trump’s campaign promises, extending tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy, eliminating certain taxes, and allocating funds for immigration and border security. To offset expenses, the bill proposed significant cuts to Medicaid and nutrition programs. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected a substantial increase in the deficit and millions losing health coverage by 2034.
Jeffries’ speech surpassed the previous record set by Kevin McCarthy in 2021, who used a lengthy address to stall a Democratic bill. This speech came after Senator Cory Booker’s prolonged address challenging the Trump Administration. Jeffries shared stories from constituents, illustrating the bill’s potential impact on Medicaid recipients, small business owners, and others.
For Democrats, Jeffries’ speech was a call to action against Trump’s policies and the Republican majority’s support for them. He condemned House Republicans for backing a bill that could harm everyday Americans, questioning how they could celebrate legislation detrimental to people’s well-being.
If the bill passes, Jeffries expressed concern about the impact on the institution and the country. Democrats in the chamber echoed his sentiments by chanting “shame, shame, shame” as Jeffries concluded his speech at 1:39 p.m. after nearly nine hours. Despite Democrats’ efforts, the legislation was expected to proceed with few obstacles. Some Democrats encouraged supporters to contact Republican representatives and oppose the bill, particularly in relation to Medicaid. On the other hand, Republicans dismissed the Democrats’ actions as unproductive and expressed confidence in the bill’s eventual passage. Rep. Jason Smith criticized the lengthy speech as “hogwash,” while Rep. Marlin Stutzman predicted the bill’s arrival on President Trump’s desk by July 4th.
