Hakeem Jeffries Gets Confronted with His Own Words by NBC’s Kristen Welker [WATCH]

NBC host Kristen Welker pressed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday during “Meet the Press” over Democratic senators withholding votes to reopen the federal government and aired clips of Democrats speaking against shutdowns after he blamed Republicans.

After Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led most Democrats to vote against the Republicans’ spending bill, the government shut down early Wednesday morning. In discussing who was responsible for the lapse in funding, Welker noted Republican senators need at least five more Democratic votes to pass the bill to reopen the government.

“But let me ask you, because you say this is a Republican shutdown, but it’s Democratic senators who are withholding their votes on what is called a clean resolution — that means no strings attached — which is something, quite frankly, Leader, that you and other Democrats have advocated for in the past,” Welker said.

Welker then played a montage featuring Democrats — including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Jeffries — advocating for avoiding a shutdown and passing a clean continuing resolution.

The host followed up by asking why Democrats would not “fund the government and debate extending Obamacare tax credits after,” noting that the credits do not expire until the end of 2025.

“What we’ve called for is a bipartisan negotiation where Democrats and Republicans can sit down in good faith, reopen the government, pass a spending bill that actually improves the quality of life of the American people in an environment where the cost of living is already too high,” Jeffries responded.

“Republicans promised to lower costs on day one. Costs aren’t going down, they’re going up.”

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“If these Affordable Care Act tax credits are allowed to expire, premiums and healthcare costs are going to skyrocket. America is already too expensive for the American people because of the Trump-failed policies, the Trump tariffs. This will make things worse,” Jeffries added.

“So we just want a bipartisan negotiation that addresses the healthcare crisis at the same period of time with the fierce urgency of now.”

The House passed the GOP-led spending bill late Tuesday evening.

With a shutdown looming hours away, the measure moved to the Senate, where it did not meet the 60-vote threshold.

The vote was 55–45, with three Democratic senators joining Republicans.

Since the shutdown began, Democrats have said Republicans failed to negotiate on concerns related to healthcare access.

Republicans countered that Democrats tried to attach policy demands, including proposals they say would extend benefits to illegal aliens, and argued Schumer is following the lead of progressives such as Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The exchange on “Meet the Press” came against the backdrop of recent funding standoffs.

In March 2025, lawmakers avoided a shutdown when Schumer and nine other Senate Democrats joined Republicans to approve a GOP-led spending bill.

Schumer, then under pressure from his left flank, quickly drew criticism from progressives, including Ocasio-Cortez.

Ocasio-Cortez publicly called that move “a tremendous mistake.”

Speculation followed about whether she might consider challenging Schumer for his Senate seat in 2028.

Despite questions about Schumer’s posture in the latest impasse, Ocasio-Cortez has denied having any influence over the Senate minority leader.

As negotiations continue, the central dispute remains whether to pass a short-term “clean” continuing resolution or to link funding to policy provisions, including the timing of decisions on Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Jeffries has argued that any temporary measure should address healthcare costs at the same time, while Republican leaders have pushed for reopening the government first and debating policy riders separately.

The Senate’s failed vote keeps pressure on both chambers to find a path forward.

Republican leaders say a straightforward extension without additional conditions is necessary to restore federal operations.

Democratic leaders insist talks must include their healthcare priorities before reopening. No new Senate vote had been announced as of Sunday’s broadcast, and House leaders indicated they were waiting for the Senate to act.

Both parties encouraged agencies and constituents to monitor official updates for contingency guidance while negotiations continue.

Lawmakers in both chambers said they remain in contact over potential adjustments that could secure the additional votes needed to clear the 60-vote hurdle in the Senate.