'America is better than this': Jeffries slams Trump during speech at Illinois event

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke at the County Chairs’ Brunch, a premiere event for Illinois Democrats, Wednesday.

During his speech, he told a story about a trip he took with his sons when they were younger, saying one of children used the word "debacle" to describe a situation. When Jeffries asked his son if he knew what the word meant, he said "it's something bad."

Jeffries said it's the perfect way to describe the state of the U.S. under President Donald Trump and his administration.

"I think this is the moment that we're in right now, Illinois Democrats," Jeffries said at the event. "Crashing the economy is something bad. Destroying Medicaid as you know it is something bad. Taking a chainsaw to Social Security is something bad. Raising costs on hard-working Americans is something bad. Firing veterans who served this country is something bad. Cancelling medical research for children with cancer is something bad. Destroying the retirement accounts of everyday Americans -- that's something bad. Trying to whitewash the most painful parts of American history -- something bad. Unleashing mass ICE agents on law-abiding immigrant families, which should never happen, is something bad. And undermining the rule of law is something bad. The first six months of the Trump administration have been a debacle. America is better than this."

AMERICA'S NEWS NOW

--------------------------------------

The National Desk (TND) brings you award-winning local storytelling from Sinclair Broadcast Group's local TV newsrooms across the United States and feeds from sources throughout the world.

Like us on Facebook for live feeds, video

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on TikTok

Follow us on X

Read more & watch our videos

TND covers content from Sinclair's stations in:

Abilene-San Angelo, TX : KTXS

Albany, GA : WFXL

Albany, NY : WRGB

Amarillo, TX : KVII

Asheville, NC : WLOS

Austin , TX : KEYE

Bakersfield, CA : KBAK/KBFX

Baltimore : WBFF

Beaumont, TX : KFDM/KBTV

Birmingham, AL : WBMA

Boise, ID : KBOI/KYUU

Bristol, VA : WCYB

Cedar Rapids, IA : KGAN/KFXA

Champaign, IL : WCCU

Charleston, SC : WCIV

Charleston, WV : WCHS/WVAH

Chattanooga, TN : WTVC

Cincinnati, OH : WKRC/WSTR

Columbia, SC : WACH

Columbus, OH : WSYX/WTTE

Dayton, OH : WKEF/WRGT

El Paso, TX : KFOX/KDBC

Eugene, OR : KVAL/KMTR

Eureka, CA : KAEF

Flint, MI : WEYI/WBSF

Fresno, CA : KMPH

Gainesville, FL : WGFL

Green Bay, WI : WLUK

Greenville-New Bern, NC : WCTI

Harlingen, TX : KGBT

Harrisburg, PA : WHP

Jefferson City, MO : KRCG

Johnstown, PA : WJAC

Kalamazoo-Grand Rapids, MI : WWMT

Kirksville-Ottumwa, IA : KTVO

Las Vegas, NV : KSNV

Lewiston, ID : KLEW

Lincoln, NE : KHGI/KWNB

Little Rock, AR : KATV

Lynchburg, VA : WSET

Macon, GA : WGXA

Medford, OR : KTVL

Mobile, AL : WPMI

Myrtle Beach, SC : WPDE

Nashville, TN : WZTV

Oklahoma City : KOCB/KOKH

Pasco, WA : KEPR

Pensacola, FL : WEAR/WFGX

Portland, ME : WGME/WPFO

Portland, OR : KATU/KUNP

Providence, RI : WJAR

Quincy-Hannibal, IL : KHQA

Redding-Chico, CA : KRCR

Reno, NV : KRNV/KRXI

Rochester, NY : WHAM

Salt Lake City : KUTV

San Antonio, TX : KABB/WOAI

Savannah, GA : WTGS

Seattle, WA : KOMO/KUNS

Sioux City, IA : KMEG/KPTH

South Bend, IN : WSBT

Springfield, IL : WICS

Steubenville, OH : WTOV

Syracuse, NY : WSTM

Toledo, OH : WNWO

Traverse City, MI : WPBN

Tulsa, OK : KTUL

Washington DC : WJLA

West Palm Beach, FL : WPEC

Wilkes-Barre, PA : WOLF

Yakima, WA : KIMA

This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com