Jeffries struggles to answer after child reporter asks about Democrats being seen ‘so poorly’

The House Minorty Leader faced the tough question during a Capitol Hill event during Take Your Child To Work Day
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries faced a tough question from a child during an event on April 23 (Getty Images)
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries faced a tough question from a child during an event on April 23 (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was left stunned when a child reporter asked him about Democrats being seen as “so poorly” by the voters.

He faced the tough question on Thursday, April 23, during a Capitol Hill event during ‘Take Your Child to Work Day,’ where children of journalists were encouraged to ask questions from politicians. The daughter of CNN’s Manu Raju reportedly questioned Jeffries during the session, “Why do voters view Democrats so poorly?”

Jeffries calls child's question 'great'



The question immediately made the audience laugh while a shocked Jeffries asked the girl if it was her father who told her to ask it. The 55-year-old politician, however, noted that “it’s a great question in that — I’m gonna have words with you after this, Manu.”

Jeffries then went on to speak at length about people’s growing distrust in politicians.

He stated, “I think that we exist in an era right now where the American people are understandably frustrated with institutions because far too many people in this country are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck.”

Jeffries claims people are frustrated with Trump

“They can’t thrive and can barely survive. And so there’s a frustration with Congress. There’s frustration with institutional political parties, whether that’s Democrats or Republicans,” the lawmaker explained.

Jeffries further claimed that people are even frustrated with the “courts, with organized religion, with the media, frustration with institutions of higher education.” He went on to slam President Donald Trump, asserting that of course people are frustrated “with the current president of the United States of America.”

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

There’s a great frustration that applies to every organized institution in this country, and Democrats are not immune from that. And we do have a responsibility to continue to convince the American people that, as a party, we’re actually focused on making their life better,” he added.

Trump slams Jeffries, calls him 'not smart enough'

This came as on Thursday Trump once again attacked Jeffries by calling him “low IQ”. 



On his Truth Social Post, he wrote, “Hakeem ‘High Tax’ Jeffries is a Low IQ individual who is not smart enough to be ‘running’ the Democrat Party, and certainly not smart enough to be involved in running the United States of America.”

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 18: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on February 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. Jeffries spoke on the ongoing shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the need for ICE oversight. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks at a news conference at the US Capitol on February 18, 2026 in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

It’s people like this who almost destroyed our Nation with their High Tax, Open Border Policies. In the future, Hakeem, a fine American name, will forever be known as HIGH TAX!”  the Republican leader added.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

The communication problems meant controllers did not receive the standard three-minute warning before Marine One’s departure
5 hours ago
Trump is expected to commemorate 9/11 at the Pentagon before traveling to Ireland for the Irish Open at his Doonbeg golf course
8 hours ago
During the Aug 27 signing ceremony at the White House, Trump joked that after renaming the Gulf of Mexico and now a lake, 'all we need is an ocean'
9 hours ago
The announcement came days after Trump confirmed the mine-clearing operation and warned Iran against laying new mines in the strategic waterway
9 hours ago
Donald Trump’s six-tier list also placed Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Franklin D Roosevelt in the 'Great' category
10 hours ago
Donald Trump signaled Washington could target Beijing’s financial dealings with Tehran, raising the stakes ahead of his expected meeting with Xi Jinping
11 hours ago
Bret Baier pushed back on Trump's claims about the report and defended his colleague Jonathan Hunt as 'a great reporter'
11 hours ago
Lisa Cook was accused of falsifying mortgage documents for properties in Ann Arbor and Atlanta, both bought before her Fed confirmation under Biden
15 hours ago
Asked whether the US had warned Vladimir Putin about attacks on NATO, Trump declined to comment but said, 'They are not going to attack NATO territory
16 hours ago
Trump and Ted Cruz competed for the 2016 GOP nomination, with their campaign relationship turning bitter as Trump publicly attacked Cruz's wife
16 hours ago