Leader Jeffries in Denver: “People Are Drowning in the Trump Economy”

September 10th, 2026 | Press Release LEADER JEFFRIES IN DENVER: “PEOPLE ARE DROWNING IN THE TRUMP ECONOMY” Yesterday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke to reporters following a roundtable in Denver with Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02), local elected officials and members of the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance about how House Democrats are united in the fight to make life better for everyday Americans and reverse the toxic policies of Donald Trump and extreme MAGA Republicans. Below are excerpts of his remarks during the gaggle and the roundtable. LEADER JEFFRIES ON THE ROUNDTABLE: We had a wonderful, thoughtful, powerful conversation with the Denver Ministerial Alliance as well as elected officials and community leaders. We discussed a host of issues, including a lot of the challenges that relate to the extremism that’s been unleashed on the people of Colorado and this nation by the Trump administration, including the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, the attacks on healthcare, the out-of-control ICE activity and the assault on voting rights. I look forward to continuing to stay in close touch with the leadership here in Denver, in the greater Denver area and beyond. I’m so thankful, of course, for Congressman Joe Neguse for extending this invitation to me and for the great work that he continues to do as Assistant Leader in the United States House of Representatives. LEADER JEFFRIES ON THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS: We’re committed to addressing the affordability crisis that we know is impacting the people here in Denver and throughout Colorado. Life is far too expensive. There are too many people in this state and across the country who are working hard, they’re playing by the rules, but they can’t thrive and they can barely survive. The affordability crisis is not a hoax. It is very real. People are drowning in the Trump economy, and we’re committed to lowering the high cost of living in the United States of America. At the same period of time, we’ve seen record levels of corruption be unleashed on the American people. And when you have people in high office, including the President and all of his minions who are part of the Trump cartel, who are so focused on enriching themselves, their family, their friends and their donors, then it means they’re not focused on making life more affordable for the people of Colorado or throughout this great country, and we need to address it. LEADER JEFFRIES ON ACCOUNTABILITY AGENDA: What we’ve committed to doing is to make sure that beginning on day one, if folks have been stealing from the American people, shortchanging the American people or screwing over the American people, we’re going to hold the crooks accountable. And the effort as it relates to oversight, investigations and accountability, as I’ve indicated, that’s going to be led by Congressman Jamie Raskin and House Judiciary Committee Democrats, including Congressman Joe Neguse as well as Congressman Robert Garcia and House Oversight Committee Democrats. Here’s what we’re going to do: we’re going to follow the facts, we’re going to apply the law, we’re going to be guided by the Constitution and we’re going to let the chips fall where they may in terms of conducting the oversight that is part of being a separate and co-equal branch of government. LEADER JEFFRIES ON REINING IN ICE: We’ve made clear that Donald Trump’s violent mass deportation machine doesn’t get a dime, and we’ve done that in the minority…because we think taxpayer dollars should be spent to make life more affordable for the American people, not brutalize or kill American citizens or, finally, target law-abiding immigrant families, including African immigrants. LEADER JEFFRIES ON RACISM IN POLICYMAKING: Some of what we talked about with some of the African American leaders related to the policy violence that’s going to have a disproportionate impact on the African American community, including the assault on healthcare, the attacks on Medicaid, the dramatic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, continuing challenges as it relates to the lingering impact of mass incarceration and, of course, just the naked, blatant attack on Black political opportunity as a result of the Supreme Court’s egregious decision in gutting the Voting Rights Act, as well as the attack led by Pete Hegseth, of all people, on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and the adverse impact that has had on Black women in particular. So these were all very incredibly well-articulated, thoughtful, passionate observations and points that were made that I think Congressman Neguse and myself are going to take to heart and take back with us to Washington as we shape public policy into the future. ### Back to News Share: Facebook Twitter