Fact-Checking Hakeem Jeffries’ Claims on Healthcare and Economy
House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) recently made several statements regarding President Donald Trump’s economic policies along with proposed changes to Medicaid and Obamacare. These claims prompted a fact-check from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).
During a radio program last Thursday, Jeffries reiterated a claim stating that “about 13.7 million people are jumping out of health care” due to a settlement bill recently passed. He expressed that this budget proposed by Republicans was “reckless” and designed not to improve lives, but rather to worsen conditions for Americans. Jeffries even declared that if the budget passes in the Senate, “people will die.” This rhetoric seemed particularly extreme.
Despite Jeffries’ alarming claims about the proposed budget—which he described as harmful—it was reported that the budget actually aimed to secure $880 billion in savings through various changes to Medicaid. The New York Times indicated that the figure of 13.7 million was likely inflated, attributing a more accurate number of approximately 8.6 million Americans who might lose health insurance under this new plan. This conclusion was also echoed by several other lawmakers, including Bernie Sanders and Dick Durbin, who also seemed misguided.
The suggested modifications to the healthcare system include stricter checks for Medicaid eligibility, as the program has faced issues related to significant waste and fraud. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) pointed out that over 1.4 million illegal immigrants are reportedly using Medicaid. According to Breitbart News, over the past ten years, Medicaid has inadvertently issued $1.1 trillion in improper payments.
Jeffries further claimed that healthcare costs are rising, inflation is increasing, and expressed concerns over a stagnant stock market. He seemed to suggest that the economy was on the brink of recession, with high interest rates remaining a challenge.
However, recent data from multiple sources, including Breitbart News, has shown that core inflation is at its lowest level in four years. As reported by USA Today, the Consumer Price Index reveals a decline in inflation, emphasizing that it has improved recently, coinciding with the time Trump’s tariffs were in place. Additionally, Axios reported on May 15 that the “hard data” indicated that fears of recession might be overstated, possibly exaggerating the consequences of the tariffs.
Yahoo Finance noted on May 13 that egg prices saw a significant drop in April, marking the largest decrease in nearly four decades.
In response to Jeffries’ assertions, NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella stated, “The truth is, while the economy is booming under President Trump and Republicans, House Democrats have no message other than pathetic fear and distraction from their mistakes.” This highlights a clear divide in perspectives regarding the state of the economy and proposed healthcare reforms.
