Rep. Hakeem Jeffries criticizes Trump's DEI comments, federal funding freeze
NEW YORK (WABC) -- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries admonished President Trump for his "irresponsible statement" suggesting DEI played a role in Wednesday's deadly mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport.
"Bodies are still being pulled from the Potomac," Leader Jeffries said, adding, "Children were killed. Future ice-skating Olympians were killed, future leaders in Wichita, Kansas, and beyond were killed as result of this tragedy. And we don't need misdirection and we don't need misinformation coming from the highest office in the land."
"There is not a scintilla of evidence that exists to suggest that women and people of color are to blame for the tragedy that took place," Jeffries added.
Jeffries called the fatal collision above the Potomac River a national tragedy that now needs leadership and decency from the executive branch. In veiled references to the president, Jeffries repeatedly denounced misinformation about the event.
Jeffries also sounded off on Trump's plan to pause billions of dollars in federal grants and loans.
He called the freeze a "Republican rip-off scheme."
Flanked by representatives from Head Start, Meals on Wheels, and public safety and violence prevention programs that receive federal aid, Jeffries and Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Yvette Clarke Clarke criticized the funding freeze that was rescinded earlier this week.
"The Federal funding freeze that was put into place this week was unlawful, unconscionable, and unamerican," Jeffries said, adding "It was part of an effort to rip off the American people connected to a Republican scheme to cut taxes for billionaires and wealthy corporations and force everyday Americans, working class Americans, low income Americans, and middle class Americans to pay for it. It's not acceptable and we're going to fight hard to make sure it never happens."
Jeffries compared House Democrats to his favorite Yankee, Aaron Judge, because he does not swing at every pitch.
"One of the reasons that he's a great hitter is that he does not swing at every pitch. He waits for the right one and then he swings. We're not going to swing at every pitch, we're going to swing at the ones that matter," Jeffries said.
Jeffries emphatically ended his press conference by pledging to continue fighting against the Republican "agenda."
"House Democrats, Senate Democrats, Democratic governors and everyday Americans all across the country rose up in defiance as it relates to the illegal, unlawful and extreme federal funding freeze that is part of the Republican rip off agenda," he said. "We fought it, we stopped it, and we will never surrender."
On Wednesday, President Trump's budget office rescinded the memo freezing federal spending - for now.
ALSO READ: 67 dead after midair collision between passenger jet and military helicopter; Black boxes recovered
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