Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, recently took to the floor to use his “magic minutes” in opposition to President Trump’s proposed “Big, Beautiful Bill.” For more than seven hours, he passionately expressed his views, hoping to sway opinions against the measure.
During this time, a few Republican members of the House were convinced to support the bill, which paved the way for final discussions. After discussions wrapped up, Jeffries began delivering speeches at 5 AM ET and continued to voice his opposition until nearly 10:30 AM, insisting on extending his time.
So, how did this unfold into such a lengthy speech? Unlike Senator Cory Booker’s earlier record-setting filibuster, which focused on opposing spending cuts related to a GOP tax bill, Jeffries used his allotted time differently. House traditions allow leaders like him to extend speech times once discussions on a bill are over, which he was clearly taking advantage of.
It’s uncertain how long Jeffries will continue this strategy on Thursday. If he’s aiming to surpass the record set by former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, he’ll need to keep talking past 1:26 PM ET.
Regardless of Jeffries’ efforts, the massive bill is likely to pass through the House, thanks to a slim margin. Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose three votes, assuming all members are present, but the bill is still anticipated to get the green light.
The passage of this bill could mark a significant victory for the President and the Republican Party, consolidating various GOP priorities into what Trump has dubbed a “big beautiful bill.” With Democrats united in their opposition, this measure might prove crucial for Trump as he seeks a return to the White House and aims to reclaim Republican control in Congress.
As Jeffries spoke on Thursday, other Democrats, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal, encouraged constituents to reach out to their representatives to oppose the bill.
