As House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) drones on, his marathon speech against President Donald Trump’s signature legislation exposes a stunning contradiction. Once a vocal critic of the filibuster, Jeffries now clings to delay tactics, leaving even his own party struggling to stay awake. What’s behind this political theater?

Summary

• Hakeem Jeffries’ nearly nine-hour speech delayed the House vote on Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.
• Jeffries, who once called the filibuster a “relic of Jim Crow,” now uses a similar tactic.
• Democrats reportedly dozed off during Jeffries’ lengthy House floor speech.
• The bill, a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda, gained GOP support after Jeffries’ performance.
• Republicans criticize Jeffries’ “optics” as ineffective against the bill’s momentum.

Jeffries’ Flip-Flop on Filibuster

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who in 2022 branded the Senate filibuster as “dripping in racist history and defense of slavery and Jim Crow,” has ironically employed a prolonged speech to stall President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. 

Using the House’s “magic minute” rule, which allows leaders to speak indefinitely, Jeffries spoke for over eight hours, breaking the record for the longest House floor speech previously set by Kevin McCarthy in 2021. 

“I feel an obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time,” Jeffries declared, a stark contrast to his past condemnation of such tactics.

Democrats Doze as Jeffries Drones

As Jeffries rambled, the House chamber grew quiet—literally. Reports indicate several Democrats struggled to stay awake during the marathon speech, with some visibly dozing off. 

The lackluster response from his own party underscored the futility of his effort. “Dollar Store Obama has been hysterically rambling for over three and a half hours,” quipped Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), mocking Jeffries’ performance as repetitive and ineffective. 

The speech, meant to rally opposition, instead highlighted Democratic disengagement.

Bill Gains Momentum Despite Delay

Far from derailing the One Big Beautiful Bill, Jeffries’ tactics may have backfired. Vice President JD Vance revealed that an undecided Republican congressman, swayed by Jeffries’ performance, became a firm supporter of the bill. 

“GOP Congressman just texted me: ‘I was undecided on the bill but then I watched Hakeem Jeffries performance and now I’m a firm yes,’” Vance wrote on X. 

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) dismissed Jeffries’ speech as “all optics,” emphasizing the bill’s imminent passage. The legislation, which extends tax cuts and advances Trump’s energy and immigration policies, is poised for House approval.

Final Thoughts 

Jeffries’ hypocritical delay tactics, once decried by him as relics of a dark past, failed to halt the Republican-led bill. As Democrats snoozed, the GOP rallied, proving that political grandstanding can’t stop Trump’s agenda. The House vote looms, and the Big Beautiful Bill is set to shape America’s future.