Hakeem Jeffries trolled for record-breaking speech to delay vote on GOP spending bill: 'Total phony'

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Hakeem Jeffries, the top House Democrat from New York, decided to break the record for the longest speech on the House floor Thursday, July 3 — but it seems to have backfired.

Jeffries spoke for a marathon eight hours and 45 minutes, hoping to delay a late-night vote on what Republicans are proudly calling President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

Hakeem Jeffries takes his 'sweet time' on House floor

Hakeem Jeffries kicked things off in the early hours before dawn and clarified beforehand that he was "planning to take my sweet time."

By around 1.30 pm, he had officially broken the previous speech-length record set by former Rep Kevin McCarthy in 2021 when he stalled a $2 trillion Democratic package with his own eight-hour marathon.

But unlike McCarthy’s Senate-style filibuster, Jeffries was using a classic House trick known as the “magic minute.” It's basically a loophole where party leaders get 60 seconds to speak — but can stretch that out forever, technically.

In this case, Jeffries was trying to rally Democrats (and a handful of Republicans) around something coherent to push back against Trump’s momentum. The bill at stake has been criticized for slashing social safety net programs and locking in sweeping tax cuts. Furthermore, Trump desperately wants to sign by the Fourth of July.

Hakeem Jeffries rips Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'

Hakeem Jeffries also took aim at the name Republicans gave their legislation, sarcastically calling it “one, big, ugly bill” and accusing the GOP of jamming it “down the throats of the American people.” His speech dove deep into how the bill would gut Medicaid and SNAP food assistance, sharing stories of people who’d be hit the hardest.

“Leadership requires courage, conviction, compassion — and yet what we have seen from this administration and co-conspirators on the Republican side of the aisle is cruelty, chaos, and corruption,” he said, slamming the bill as “an extraordinary assault on the health care of the American people.”

Armed with a thick binder of notes and facing a mostly empty House chamber (except for a handful of clapping Democrats), Jeffries kept pushing.

He didn’t just stick to the bill, and criticized Trump’s immigration policies, the cuts ordered by his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and Trump trampling on the Declaration of Independence. 

There were a few lighter moments to break the monotony. Jeffries reminisced about using his first-ever paycheck to buy new sneakers so he could “look fresh, like Run D.M.C.," told his mother he loved her, and tossed in shoutouts to colleagues, including their states and alma maters.

Hakeem Jeffries mocked for 'grandstanding' speech

But in the end, none of it worked. The bill passed anyway, 218 to 214, and now heads to Donald Trump’s desk for a very likely signature.

It was a tough blow for the Dems and their headliner of the day, who many felt came off more like a guy craving headlines than actually changing any minds. And it wasn't long before Jeffries was brutally roasted on social media for his nearly 9-hour tirade on the House floor.

"Hakeem Jeffries ends his floor speech just *MINUTES* after breaking the record, which just PROVES this was a grandstanding measure. All about him. He wanted HIS name next to this record. It had NOTHING to do with the bill. Pathetic. You’re a FRAUD, @RepJeffries," one posted on X.

"Dudes a total phony. Everyone knows it," another wrote.

"A record for wasting time and money is perfect for Hakeem," someone else added.

"Hakeem Jeffries just spoke for 8 hours and 44 minutes but didn’t say one word of value. What an imbecile," read a comment.

"Hakeem Jeffries speech sucked so much that 2 no votes went to yes. Hilarious," a person quipped.

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