Hakeem Jeffries praises Trump's border policy

[AStern]

Jeffries: "The border is secure. That's a good thing. It happened on his watch. He wants to claim credit for it, of course he'll get credit for that. In terms of making sure that we actually deal with the issues that matter, including on immigration, there's a lot that's left to be desired."

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-12-03T17:00:29.092Z

He needs to go IMHO.

[yardwork]

1. Sigh. That could have been handled so much better.

[AStern]

2. Dems need to get better representatives.

Sadly, Jeffries isn't one of them.

[Cha]

26. Sanders Did the Same Thing.

'Trump Did a Better Job’: Sanders Breaks with Democrats on Border

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/trump-did-a-better-job-sanders-breaks-with-democrats-on-border/ar-AA1ReDSN

[Scrivener7]

38. And it was asinine then too.

[QueerDuck]

69. Does this harsh sentiment apply to Sanders who basically said the same thing?

Would it be fair to swap the name "Jeffries" with "Sanders" in that previous declaration? Goose and gander and all that, or something.

[MustLoveBeagles]

8. Ya think?

He's writing ads for the Republicans.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

53. No. He did say it. Unless you think he'd post a deep fake on his own government site.

https://democraticleader.house.gov/media/press-releases/leader-jeffries-cnn-these-people-are-destroying-healthcare-american-people

PAMELA BROWN: And it is true that the polls show in terms of the tactics used that the majority, they don't like the tactics being used. But in terms of the border, securing the border, can you give President Trump any credit for securing the border? Because as you know, that was a big issue under the Biden administration when you had record border crossings and those border crossings have gone down dramatically. Can you give him credit for that?

LEADER JEFFRIES: The border is secure, that's a good thing. It's happened on his watch. He wants to claim credit for it. Of course, he'll get credit for that. In terms of making sure that we actually deal with the issues that matter, including on immigration or beyond, there's a lot that is left to be desired.

[Ars Longa]

62. Expect to see that quote in GOP ads a LOT going forward! eom

[mvd]

3. What?!

I can’t believe he said this. The border was secure enough under Biden. The only difference now is the cruelty.

[leftstreet]

4. Does he have some proof of this?

"The border is secure!!!"

Does that mean Trump's wall is effective? The millions given to private contractors are paying off?

Or, are fewer people coming here?

[awesomerwb1]

5. This dude never eases to disappoint. Oh well

[Cha]

84. 'They Lie for a Living': Jeffries Rages At WH Claim About Pete Hegseth's Involvement In Second Boat Strike'

snip***

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) reacted to the White House claiming Adm. Frank M. Bradley, at the authorization of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, gave the order to strike an alleged drug-smuggling boat a second time

.
snip***

“The White House is lying, but that’s no surprise, because they lie for a living, and the American people know it. It’s my understanding that Pete Hegseth, the so-called Secretary of Defense, was absolutely involved.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143575349

What's "disappointing" about that Leader Jeffries News?

[awesomerwb1]

85. Amazing

Statements like that are very rare and out of character for him. More of that please (not holding my breath).

[BeyondGeography]

6. Inept

Did he mention that Joe Biden was ready to sign a comprehensive bipartisan-supported immigration bill written largely by a conservative Republican Senator from Oklahoma that Trump killed? Didn’t think so.

[MustLoveBeagles]

7. He was doing so well recently

He handed the Republicans a sound byte gift wrapped. No one's going to see the last sentence. Stupid, stupid.

[electric_blue68]

18. Omg! Exactly what I Thought as soon I saw that Headline!...

I'd been saying I think he'd been getting more pointed etc, and I approved.

Wtf? 😑😑😬

[MustLoveBeagles]

19. I don't know what he was thinking 🧐

[Polybius]

22. He just joined Republicans voted to "denounce 'horrors' of socialism" on November 21st

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143569855#post11

Edit: and he just praised Trump's Pardon of 'Beloved' Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143576618

[MustLoveBeagles]

23. It keeps getting worse

[Polybius]

21. Was he though?

He just joined Republicans voted to "denounce 'horrors' of socialism" on November 21st.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143569855#post11

Edit: and he just praised Trump's Pardon of 'Beloved' Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143576618

[MustLoveBeagles]

28. I wasn't aware he voted in favor of that nonsense

Another disappointment.

[LuvLoogie]

9. WTF!?

[GreenWave]

10. Totally forgot Bannon stole $5,000,000 from the racist wall donations.

[newdeal2]

11. Is he going on Bill Maher's show on Friday?

This seems like something he would say.

WTF

[SunImp]

12. Bernie did it too

We need to stop letting the GOP control the narrative. Immigration, Trans athletes, etc stop giving in to their framing

[MustLoveBeagles]

13. Bernie too?

Damnit.

Agree with everything you said.

[SunImp]

15. Yeah, in a podcast

https://share.google/hfWJz4xyJMsP3pgGp

[red dog 1]

14. Here's one of the replies on Bluesky

What?!
The border was never insecure.
This guy is worthless.

— The Center Holds (@mornba.bsky.social) 2025-12-03T17:02:37.641Z

[Mysterian]

16. Jesus H. Christ

I'm so sick of these milquetoast Democrats.

[Cha]

25. Oh yeah? Sanders did the same thing..

'Trump Did a Better Job’: Sanders Breaks with Democrats on Border

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/trump-did-a-better-job-sanders-breaks-with-democrats-on-border/ar-AA1ReDSN

[Scrivener7]

40. You said this before. Are you saying you support Sanders's statement?

[Emile]

55. Sure looks that way.

[AStern]

64. Did Sanders also praise Trumps pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife?

Because Hakeem Jeffries did.

You down with that?

[Mysterian]

65. Then file him among the milquetoasts

But I'm not clear what Sanders has to do with a post about Democrats.

[Cirsium]

79. Yes, and that was terrible, too

What is your point?

[Emile]

17. Damn, Jeffries. Short memory.

Democrats tried to pass a border security bill, and Trump killed it because he wanted a campaign issue.

[Cha]

24. So did Sanders "paise" Traitor's border

patrol.. does he get the same condemnation?

'Trump Did a Better Job’: Sanders Breaks with Democrats on Border

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/trump-did-a-better-job-sanders-breaks-with-democrats-on-border/ar-AA1ReDSN

[Emile]

30. So you feel the same about Jeffries, as you do Bernie?

[Cha]

32. You didn't answer the question...

When you answer I'll tell you what I think.

[Emile]

33. Okay, I'll bite. If Bernie was the House Minority Leader,

I would. But he's not in the house, nor in a leadership position.

[Cha]

36. lol... Figures. We all know Sanders

has a Big Megaphone.

[Emile]

42. . . .

[PufPuf23]

43. The thread is about Hakeem Jeffries not Bernie Sanders.

Why don't you make a thread about Bernie Sanders?

Sanders is notably not a Democrat.

Hakeem Jeffries is a Democratic leader.

Why obscure actions by Jeffries?

Truth hurt?

[travelingthrulife]

63. Of course he does get the same condemnation for stating untruths that hurt us.

Why do you keep asking?

[Mysterian]

66. Someone like Ocasio-Cortez would have been prepared for battle and retorted with this factual information

Jeffries rolls over like a trained retriever.

[JI7]

20. So did Bernie Sanders. Maybe they can both go together

Or maybe we can recognize there are certain issues where it's easy for Republicans to attack us on so we need to come out strong on these issues ourselves.

They do the same with crime and education.

[bucolic_frolic]

27. Trump's border policy is the sole popular Trump item with MAGA

Politically we might grab some MAGA votes by going soft on it. I think that's what's going on here.

[geojazz]

29. Hakeem playing chess for sure!!

[sheshe2]

31. Not seeing what you are saying.

That wasn't praise at all he was being diplomatic with some snark thrown in.

"He wants to claim credit for it" HE WANTS is the key word, and his sycophants will fall all over themselves to praise him as they do at the briefings where he falls asleep. So of course, they will give him credit for something he urged congress to halt during his campaign so he ALONE could solve it.

Jeffries: "The border is secure. That's a good thing. It happened on his watch. He wants to claim credit for it, of course he'll get credit for that. In terms of making sure that we actually deal with the issues that matter, including on immigration, there's a lot that's left to be desired."

Jefferies is a good solid Congressional Rep.

[Cha]

34. And, Democratic Leader.. Mahalo, she...

When you put it like that!

[sheshe2]

37. It is frustrating.

One needs to listen to his words and how they were delivered. I am hard of hearing, and I listened and I knew exactly what he said and what he meant. It is how the words were delivered and he delivered them well. He spoke wisely.

TY, Cha.

[Cha]

39. Too bad some are ready to

on him for Whatever!

I really appreciate it, she.. I didn't hear Jeffries.. just reading it and all the Condemnations. I didn't know what to think.

[sheshe2]

41. Yup.

People seem ready to toss Jefferies in the trash for some reason. It is beyond me to understand why that is.

[betsuni]

48. Politicians doing politics: a big sin, I guess. Unless one imagines oneself an outsider after decades in politics

and can't tell the difference even in 2025 between the two parties.

[betsuni]

47. Yes, sarcastic. Saying "Trump did a better job. ... It ain't that hard to do. Biden didn't do it." THAT'S praising Trump

and bashing Biden for not doing something supposedly oh so easy. Jeffries did not praise Trump or bash Democrats.

[sheshe2]

59. Thank you, betsuni.

[In It to Win It]

35. He looks so pale 😭

[uponit7771]

45. omfg

[Bread and Circuses]

46. Why? Why do Dems always try to appease the vile, greedy , lying republicans...

[Emile]

50. You have proof this is fake?

[Emile]

52. I can understand why you hope it's fake.

[mysteryowl]

56. Well, the last thing we need is our democratic leadership

saying anything supportive of trump.

[Emile]

57. Couldn't agree more. Trump hasn't done anything worthy of praise from Democrats.

[vanessa_ca]

83. Not a fake. See post 53

WhiskeyGrinder (26,067 posts)
53. No. He did say it. Unless you think he'd post a deep fake on his own government site.
Reply to mysteryowl (Reply #44)
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:31 AM


https://democraticleader.house.gov/media/press-releases/leader-jeffries-cnn-these-people-are-destroying-healthcare-american-people

PAMELA BROWN: And it is true that the polls show in terms of the tactics used that the majority, they don't like the tactics being used. But in terms of the border, securing the border, can you give President Trump any credit for securing the border? Because as you know, that was a big issue under the Biden administration when you had record border crossings and those border crossings have gone down dramatically. Can you give him credit for that?

LEADER JEFFRIES: The border is secure, that's a good thing. It's happened on his watch. He wants to claim credit for it. Of course, he'll get credit for that. In terms of making sure that we actually deal with the issues that matter, including on immigration or beyond, there's a lot that is left to be desired.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

54. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's a deep fake.

[LymphocyteLover]

58. Jeffries needs to get a clue. Just ridiculous. The border is closed and we are not taking any refugees

which goes against American tradition and laws, but apparently nothing fucking matters anymore for this racist POS POTUS and his racist POS party... or for the Dem House leader???

[Ars Longa]

60. He also, inexplicably, praised Trump's pardon of Rep Cuellar!

Jeffries could be a good Rep for his district., but is very inconsistent, and
should not be the Leadership face of the Democrats on National TV..

[choie]

81. Exactly.

Disgusting.

[travelingthrulife]

61. These people are just crazy. WHY would he say such a thing???

[MustLoveBeagles]

68. Right!?

[Duncan Grant]

67. This is not the Speaker I'm looking for.

Hakeem used to offer exciting rhetoric and a believable desire to enact change. He’s not even doing that anymore.

[Quiet Em]

70. We are going to win back the House in '26 and Hakeem Jeffries will be our Speaker

He is higly respected and supported by House Democrats.

This morning Jeffries and House Democrats are working on extending the health care subsidies that millions of Americans desperately need.

Taking pot shots at Jeffries over this does not seem very helpful.

[Mysterian]

71. The old way led us into this nightmare

The old way will not lead us out.

[Ars Longa]

74. Why Is it Pre-Ordained somewhere, that H. Jeffries has to be

the Democrats' Leader in the House?
I can think of several Reps. that would be a marked improvement!!

[Quiet Em]

75. Because he was voted in unanimously.

He has the full support of the Democratic Caucus. I'll bet you can't think of any Rep. that could be voted in unanimously like Jeffries.

[Ars Longa]

78. I said, I can think of several better...

Reps:
Himes
Crow
Neguse
AOC
R.Garcia

I hope someone else challenges him!

[Quiet Em]

82. You are mentioning great Representatives who all strongly support Hakeem Jeffries.

None of them are going to challenge him.

[karynnj]

72. You need to read the entire quote

I don't think there are ANY elected officials who wouldn't agree that we need to control the borders. The lie the Republicans have used for multiple election cycles is that Democrats support open borders.

The problem that although Jefferies appears to say at the end, there are problems with Trump's immigration policies, the Republicans will chop that off


The change he and Bernie, whose full statement I didn't see need to make is how to avoid giving Trump a sound bite that on its face, out of context, says Trump is correct on the border. I also worry that it could be heard as Trump fixed something that was a problem under Biden.

Maybe a statement that doesn't mention Trump, but says something along the lines of "The US like any country must control who is allowed in and that has been the policy of all US Presidents. More complicated than border policy is an immigration policy that deals are with the complicated reality that there are many good hard working immigrants who have been here for decades without legal status. Congressional legislation is the only way to deal with this. The Republicans killed bipartisan efforts in both the Obama and Biden years.

Now, I realize that the whole last part might be chopped, but the first sentence doesn't give them a sound bite.

[senseandsensibility]

76. I saw this live and it definitely wasn't his finest moment

He could have just said this isn't the way to do it. Not at the expense of American citizens losing their rights. I'm surprised that he couldn't have come up with something better.

[returnee]

77. I would like to see a comparison...

…between Trump’s actual border policies (other than scaring the shit out of people) to Biden’s actual policy and the policy of the bipartisan law TSF would not allow to pass. Then we can talk.

[choie]

80. What is the fucking point of saying this?

Does he understand we’re at war against these bastards? What does he hope to gain from this bullshit? What a farce- what a weak politician.