A House Republican complained about Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ marathon speech railing against the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” likening the Black congressman’s oratory style to “rapping.”
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., mimicked Jeffries’ delivery while criticizing the Black New York congressman’s speaking style.
“Well, when I listen to Hakeem Jeffries, it drives me bananas. Just talk, man,” Ogles told conservative influencer Benny Johnson’s podcast Thursday.
“I know he can talk, I heard it on the House floor. With this whole face thing that he does and his hands … alright, are you doing sign language? Or are you rapping? Or are you trying to talk to us? Like, pick a lane and just do it, right?” Ogles told Johnson.
Jeffries was elected House minority leader by Democrats earlier this year. He became the first Black lawmaker to lead either chamber of Congress.
The New York Democrat has been speaking in opposition to the bill for seven hours and counting.
The Democrats lack the votes in Congress to stop Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” So Jeffries’ speech is really about framing it — today and for the 2026 midterm elections — as “an all-out assault on the American people,” according to the
Associated Press.
“This is personal to us,” Jeffries said as he notes the Republican measure’s impact on Americans including veterans, the working class, small-business owners, employees trying to unionize, federal workers, Medicaid beneficiaries and customers in Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges.
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