House Democrats Condemn Trump’s ‘Unhinged’ Remarks Amid Government Shutdown Crisis
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, criticized President Donald Trump’s recent remarks as ‘unhinged’ during a press conference in Brooklyn, New York, as the federal government faces the looming threat of a potential shutdown at the end of the month. Jeffries accused Republicans of attempting to ‘gut’ the healthcare system for American citizens, highlighting the deepening political divide over government funding.
During the press conference, Jeffries expressed frustration over Trump’s public comments, which he deemed unproductive and misguided. ‘The statement that Donald Trump issued today was unhinged, and it related to issues that have nothing to do with the spending bill that is before the Congress, and the need to try to avoid a government shutdown,’ Jeffries stated. He emphasized that Democrats were ready to meet with Republicans at any time to find a solution that protects American taxpayers and prevents a government shutdown.
The House of Representatives passed a short-term extension of fiscal year (FY) 2025’s government funding levels on Tuesday, aimed at keeping federal agencies operational through November 21. This move was intended to provide more time for Senate and House appropriators to reach a long-term agreement on FY 2026 funding. However, Democrats remain concerned that the Republican proposal does not adequately address their demand for expanded Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of 2025 without congressional action.
Jeffries also criticized the conservative-driven ‘big, beautiful bill,’ which imposes new restrictions and work requirements on Medicaid coverage for certain able-bodied Americans. He accused Republicans of attempting to ‘do damage to the American people’ through their spending plan. ‘Our top priority is to make sure that we cancel the cuts, lower the costs and save healthcare for the American people,’ Jeffries said. ‘That’s eight words – not difficult for Donald Trump to process.’
Despite Democrats’ efforts, the Senate has yet to pass the House Republican stopgap bill, which requires at least 60 votes to proceed. With the deadline for a funding agreement looming, tensions between the parties continue to escalate as both sides push for a resolution to avoid a partial government shutdown.
Trump, meanwhile, has dismissed the idea of a bipartisan meeting, stating that ‘no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive.’ He warned that Democrats must ‘do their job’ and avoid ‘radicalized quicksand.’ This stance has further deepened the partisan divide, leaving the government on the brink of a shutdown. As negotiations continue, the political landscape remains tense, with both parties vying for their respective positions on funding and healthcare policy.