Jeffries claims Trump budget bill will steal food from 'the mouths of babies' while enriching billionaires
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries attacked a budget proposal supporting President Trump's plans, claiming it would deprive babies of food to benefit wealthy "puppet masters."
"These MAGA extremists want to force a dangerous budget on Americans," Jeffries stated during his Monday media briefing. "They aim to remove healthcare from citizens, cut benefits for veterans, and reduce nutritional support that feeds American babies."
"Their goal? To give huge tax cuts to their rich donors and controllers like Elon Musk. This represents Republican policy in America - a complete failure," he added.
The House passed a budget framework in February including $4.5 trillion for extending Trump's 2017 tax reductions and implementing new proposals such as eliminating taxes on tips. Senate Republicans approved a draft version on Saturday. The bill remains unfinished as Republican lawmakers discuss final details.
The New York Democrat's comments responded to Trump's new tariff strategy that will apply specific tariffs on countries with historically higher tariffs on American products, plus a basic 10% tariff on other nations.
Jeffries further claimed the Trump administration is "extreme" and deliberately causing economic "pain" to Americans.
"Despite Trump's promise that costs would decrease immediately when he took office, prices continue rising. Inflation is increasing. Donald Trump and Republicans are destroying the economy right now," he stated.
"They deliberately hurt American citizens," Jeffries asserted. "This Trump tax and reckless tariffs will cost Americans thousands yearly. It's the biggest tax increase since 1968. This is what Trump's presidency and Republican control of Congress delivers - not lower costs."
When asked for further comment, Jeffries' office told Fox Digital, "The Leader's comments yesterday speak for themselves."
Trump dismissed growing economic fears following his tariff announcement Wednesday, which he named "Liberation Day" - and created a new phrase called "panican," described as a political group of "Weak and Stupid people."
"The United States can now do something that should have happened DECADES AGO. Don't be Weak! Don't be Stupid! Don't be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!). Be Strong, Courageous, and Patient, and GREATNESS will follow!" he wrote on Truth Social Monday.
"Oil prices have decreased, interest rates have fallen (the slow Fed should cut rates!), food prices have dropped, there is NO INFLATION, and the long mistreated USA collects Billions of Dollars weekly from countries imposing Tariffs already in place," Trump continued.
The Trump team has praised recent tariff plans as creating fair trade conditions for the U.S. after years of other countries placing high taxes on American goods. They claim these measures will boost jobs, reduce taxes for citizens and strengthen the U.S. supply chain by producing goods domestically.
"American steel workers, auto workers, farmers and skilled craftsmen," Trump declared from the White House Rose Garden Wednesday. "They suffered greatly. They watched helplessly as foreign leaders took our jobs, foreign cheaters emptied our factories, and foreign scavengers destroyed our beautiful American dream. We had an American dream you rarely hear about now. You did four years ago, and you do again today. But you don't often."
"Now we can prosper, and use trillions of dollars to lower our taxes and reduce our national debt," he added. "This will happen very soon. With today's action, we will finally make America great again, better than ever before. Jobs and factories will return to our country, and you already see this happening. We will strengthen our domestic industrial foundation."
