Hakeem Jeffries condemns Trump's bill as immoral

In the United States, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has recently launched an extensive effort to oppose President Donald Trump's major tax cut and spending bill. Beginning around 5 a.m. on Thursday, Jeffries took the House floor and spoke for more than five hours, aiming to postpone a critical vote on the legislation which holds substantial importance to Trump's second term plans. Throughout his lengthy discourse, Jeffries expressed concerns regarding the bill's negative impacts on Medicaid, a program essential for seniors and individuals with disabilities, citing specific personal accounts that highlight the potential struggles individuals might face due to funding cuts under the proposed measures. Jeffries has noted that the Congressional Budget Office's nonpartisan analysis indicates that the alterations to Medicaid could lead to approximately 11.8 million Americans losing their health insurance within the next decade. He insists that the cuts and changes included in the bill stem from a Republican agenda that he labels as an assault on healthcare. He emphasized the moral implications of the proposed budget, stating that budgets should be focused on uplifting the American people instead of damaging essential services. In addition to his focus on healthcare, Jeffries also criticized other aspects of the bill, such as its provisions related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and its immigration regulations. His impassioned rhetoric, declaring the Republican budget as “reckless” and “immoral,” drew a clear distinction between Democratic values and the proposals posed by the Republicans. Jeffries has urged all House Democrats to unite in opposition to the bill, pledging to fight for what he describes as the well-being of children, seniors, and everyday Americans. The impact of Jeffries' marathon speech was met with varied receptions, receiving standing ovations from his Democratic colleagues while also facing ridicule from conservative circles. Notably, Jeffries shared a photo of himself holding a baseball bat during his campaign against the bill, which provoked criticism online. Some conservatives mocked his position, describing it as lacking energy and suggesting it may incite division. Nevertheless, Jeffries revised the caption associated with the image to relate it to protecting healthcare as a key American value. As discussions on the bill persisted into the early morning, Republicans seemed poised to secure the necessary votes for its passage, despite the vigorous pushback from Democratic leadership led by Jeffries.