House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered the longest speech in the history of the US House of Representatives on Thursday, speaking for 8 hours and 46 minutes in a final stand against President Donald Trump’s sweeping USD 3.4 trillion tax and spending bill, which was later passed by a narrow 218–214 margin.
54-year-old Jeffries used the House’s “magic minute” rule, which allows party leaders to speak without time limits, to delay the vote and criticised the legislation as a “shameful, disgusting, and reckless” giveaway to the wealthy at the expense of America’s most vulnerable.
“It’s not the type of leadership that this country needs right now. But that’s what we’re getting — chaos, cruelty, and corruption,” Jeffries said during his marathon address, which began at 4:53 am and ended at 1:38 pm.
While Jeffries lacked the votes to block the Republican-controlled House from passing the bill, already approved by the Senate, his speech marked Democrats’ last stand, drawing significant attention just months ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The legislation, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill” by Trump, includes major tax cuts, spending boosts for border security and defence, and significant rollbacks to healthcare and food assistance programs.
Jeffries warned that the bill would “rip healthcare away from sick children” and devastate Medicaid coverage in low-income communities. He also highlighted stories of affected families in Republican districts.
WHO IS HAKEEM JEFFRIES?
Hakeem Sekou Jeffries, 54, is the current House Minority Leader and leader of the House Democratic Caucus, representing New York’s 8th District, which includes parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Elected to Congress in 2012, Jeffries became the first Black lawmaker to lead a major party in either chamber when he assumed leadership in 2023.
A former corporate attorney and Brooklyn native, Jeffries holds a law degree from NYU and a master’s in public policy from Georgetown. Before Congress, he served in the New York State Assembly.
His career has been defined by a focus on criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and racial and economic equity. He was a lead architect of the First Step Act and championed federal legislation banning police chokeholds.
Known for his powerful oratory rooted in his Baptist upbringing, Jeffries has become a prominent voice of resistance to Trump-era policies. His record-setting speech is emblematic of a new Democratic strategy: using procedural tactics and public messaging to slow Republican priorities and galvanize support ahead of elections.
If Democrats reclaim the House in 2026, Jeffries is widely expected to make history again, as the first Black Speaker of the House.
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