House Minority Leader Jeffries Slams Trump's Speech as 'Most Divisive' in History

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pulled no punches in his assessment of President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday night, calling it "the most divisive" speech in American history. Jeffries, who had urged Democrats to attend the address as a show of "dignified Democratic presence," didn’t mince words in his post-speech critique.

Jeffries accused Trump of failing to unite the nation or address the "serious economic challenges facing everyday Americans." Instead, he claimed the president used the platform to promote a Republican budget plan that includes what Jeffries described as "the largest cut to Medicaid in our country’s history." He emphasized that Democrats would continue to fight for policies that aim to "make life better for the people" during what he called a "turbulent moment."

Trump’s hour-and-39-minute address covered a wide range of topics, from immigration issues to the economy, and even included emotional moments like honoring special guests. But for Jeffries, the speech was more about Trump’s self-promotion than the American people. He accused the president of "repeatedly lying" and claimed his administration has been focused on advancing an "extreme agenda."

"It’s always about him and never about the American people," Jeffries said in a post-speech interview. He tied Trump’s leadership to what he described as a worsening economy and even suggested that the "free world is falling apart" due to Trump’s perceived coziness with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The House Minority Leader saved some of his sharpest criticism for what he described as misleading promises regarding Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. While Trump assured Americans that funding for these programs would not be cut unless fraud or abuse was identified, Jeffries called those assurances "lies." He warned that the proposed Republican budget includes the "largest Medicaid cut in American history," which he argued would hurt vulnerable communities, close hospitals, and shut down nursing homes.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, has previously countered such concerns, stating that the GOP is focused on improving the efficiency of these programs to ensure their longevity, not on cutting benefits.

Despite some undeniably touching moments during the speech—such as swearing in a young cancer survivor as an honorary Secret Service agent and announcing a high school senior’s acceptance to West Point—Jeffries expressed no praise for the president’s address. Instead, he doubled down on his critique of the broader "Republican agenda."

"What’s going to move this country back in the right direction is for the American people to fully understand the implications of this very divisive and extreme agenda that is being unleashed on the American people," said Jeffries.