Hakeem Jeffries Gets Cornered on CNN Over Healthcare Funding for Non-Citizens [WATCH]

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) struggled to respond Wednesday when CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed him on provisions in Democrats’ shutdown demands that could extend healthcare benefits to certain non-citizens.

The exchange came as the federal government remained closed after funding negotiations broke down earlier in the week.

Democratic leaders, including Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), have insisted that their healthcare-related provisions are focused on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits and expanding benefits for American citizens.

Schumer strongly rejected Republican claims during an MSNBC appearance Wednesday morning, calling the argument “a total, absolute [expletive] lie.”

Jeffries has echoed that position in multiple interviews, accusing Republicans of spreading misinformation.

“Federal law prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars to provide medical coverage to undocumented individuals. That’s the law. And there is nothing in anything that we have proposed that is trying to change that law,” Jeffries said during a September 30 interview with CNBC.

Republican leaders have countered that Democrats’ proposals would, in effect, provide healthcare for certain categories of non-citizens.

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Vice President J.D. Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) have pointed to Biden-era programs that expanded access for asylum seekers and individuals with temporary protected status.

“Yes, it is illegal for illegal aliens to receive health care paid for by hardworking American taxpayers. But [Democrats are] making the demand to change that. … That’s one of Chuck Schumer’s primary demands to keep the government open,” Johnson told CNN on September 28.

On Wednesday, Jeffries returned to CNN as the shutdown passed the 24-hour mark. Tapper directly questioned him about the details of the Democrats’ proposal.

“So let me ask you about a provision that the Republicans are talking about quite a bit. I know you want to talk about and Democrats want to talk about extending the Obamacare subsidies which expire at the end of 2025. But they talk about the provisions and it’s right here,” Tapper said, holding up a copy of the text.

“Subtitle E, and this has to do with the repeal of health care subtitle changes and specifically what it is they’re—how they characterize it, is you want to give health insurance uh to undocumented immigrants,” Tapper continued. Jeffries interrupted, responding, “That’s a lie.”

Tapper agreed that the provision was not directly about undocumented immigrants but clarified that some funding would impact non-citizens.

He noted that the plan would restore funding for emergency Medicaid to hospitals, which could cover undocumented immigrants and uninsured individuals in urgent care situations.

Tapper added, “And also there is this provision, and it’s not about undocumented immigrants, it’s about people with asylum seekers and people with temporary protected status, et cetera, et cetera, but about their ability to get Medicaid. So they’re non-citizens, they’re not undocumented, they’re not illegal. Why even include that in a bill knowing that they’re going to seize right upon that and use that to message?”

🚨 HOLY CRAP! Hakeem Jeffries REGRETS going on CNN, Jake Tapper just embarrassed him. pic.twitter.com/KmdS9gMxJN

TAPPER: Here’s a provision…it shows you want to give illegal aliens healthcare…

JEFFRIES: It’s a lie!

TAPPER: It’s a lie – BUT, what you support DOES bring back…

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 1, 2025

The exchange highlighted the sharp partisan divide over shutdown negotiations, with Republicans accusing Democrats of prioritizing benefits for non-citizens and Democrats maintaining that their proposals are focused on protecting American families.

The stalemate in Congress has left the government shuttered, with no clear resolution in sight.