Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries blast Trump’s speech as 'untethered from reality and truth'

WASHINGTON, DC: Senior Democrats in Congress sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s late Wednesday, December 17, address from the White House, accusing him of delivering a speech disconnected from the economic realities facing millions of Americans.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) dismissed the president’s remarks as “unhinged” and disconnected from the truth during an appearance on MSNBC’s 'The Last Word' with Lawrence O’Donnell.

“It was an unhinged speech that was, of course, untethered from reality and truth,” Jeffries said. “Donald Trump has made things worse for the American people,” he said.

Hakeem Jeffries calls Trump's speech ‘unhinged’

Jeffries argued that the president failed to take responsibility for the economic consequences of his own policies, particularly tariffs, which he said have driven up household costs.

Trump, he added, "refuses to acknowledge that the tariffs that he is solely responsible for have actually increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year."

Chuck Schumer says Trump is ‘disconnected’ from everyday Americans

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) echoed Jeffries’ criticism, suggesting in a statement that the president’s rhetoric reflected a fundamental disconnect from voters’ lived experiences.

“He lives in a bubble completely disconnected from the reality that everyday Americans are seeing and feeling,” Schumer said.

“People are feeling squeezed harder and harder every day, and tonight Donald Trump took a victory lap,” the senator added. “The facts are that prices are going up. Unemployment is going up. And there’s no end in sight.”

Trump touts economic gains amid slumping approval ratings

Trump’s roughly 20-minute prime-time address focused on what he described as major accomplishments during his first year back in the Oval Office, even as his job approval ratings slipped and criticism mounted over inflation and affordability concerns.

The president claimed that he inherited a struggling economy from the previous administration and insisted his policies are restoring economic health.

He also highlighted his immigration agenda and said his administration's success in lowering the costs for many goods.

“Over the past 11 months, we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in American history,” Trump said. “There has never been anything like it, and I think most would agree.”

Trump claims America poised to be global envy  

Trump asserted that the United States will soon become the envy of the entire world as the country heads into a year defined by celebration, renewal, and global attention.

The president described the coming year as a period of national confidence and resurgence, arguing that the United States was reclaiming its standing on the world stage after what he portrayed as years of decline.

He positioned the anniversary celebrations as more than symbolic, presenting them as proof of America’s renewed strength and unity.

During his address, Trump highlighted the United States’ role as host of major international events, including the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, connecting them to what he described as a broader American comeback.

“Soon we will host the World Cup and the Olympics, both of which I got, but most importantly, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,” Trump said.