House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) electrified the audience at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night with a powerful speech that highlighted Kamala Harris’s leadership while fiercely criticizing Donald Trump as a threat to American values.
In his first appearance since becoming the House Democratic leader, Jeffries used his primetime slot to champion Harris as a dedicated advocate for working people and to paint Trump as a peril to the middle class, reproductive rights, and the fabric of American democracy.
Jeffries labels Trump a “chaos agent” in a fiery DNC speech supporting Harris’s leadership
Jeffries’s address was a blend of impassioned sermon, a rallying cry for Harris, and a scathing critique of Trump, whom he labeled a “chaos agent” fixated on himself. One of the most memorable moments came when Jeffries likened Trump to an ex who refuses to move on after a breakup, a metaphor that resonated strongly with the crowd.
“Donald Trump is like an old boyfriend who just won’t go away. He’s spent the last four years circling back, trying to rekindle a relationship with the American people,” Jeffries remarked. “But we broke up with you for a reason.”
Jeffries systematically dismantled Trump’s record in office, condemning the GOP’s tax cuts as a “scam” benefiting the wealthy, criticizing Trump’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and denouncing the January 6th Capitol attack as an assault on democracy. He also accused Trump’s appointed Supreme Court justices of dismantling Roe v. Wade, undermining women’s rights.
Reiterating his point, Jeffries declared, “We broke up with you for a reason. Trump can try all he wants, but there’s no going back. We’ve moved on.” Jeffries, who stepped into the Democratic leadership role after Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) stepped down, is now fighting to retain the White House and reclaim control of the House, potentially becoming the first Black Speaker in U.S. history.
In the latter part of his speech, Jeffries pledged strong collaboration between House Democrats and a future Harris administration on key issues like climate change, immigration reform, Medicare expansion, and restoring abortion rights.
With his distinctive, rhythmic delivery, Jeffries closed by laying out an action plan, peppered with Biblical allusions: “Strategize on Sunday. Meet the moment on Monday. Take it to ‘em on Tuesday. Work it out on Wednesday.
Thank the Lord on Thursday. Fight the power on Friday. Set it off on Saturday. Get a few hours of sleep, wake up the next day, and do it all over again until joy, joy, joy comes in the morning.” Jeffries also praised President Biden, who stepped aside under pressure from Democrats, calling him “one of the most consequential presidents of all time.”
