Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the U.S. House, ratcheted up his attacks on President Donald Trump Wednesday, labeling his first 100 days back in the Oval Office a “debacle.”

In a major speech timed to that 100 day mark, Jeffries railed against Trump’s handling of everything from international affairs to consumer prices. 

“He couldn’t care less that housing costs are too high. He couldn't care less that grocery costs are too high. He couldn't care less that childcare costs are too high,” Jeffries said.

What You Need To Know

  • In a major speech timed to President Donald Trump's 100th day in office, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries railed against the president's handling of everything from international affairs to consumer prices

  • Jeffries accused Trump of not caring about that housing costs, grocery costs and childcare costs are "too high"
  • Jeffries said House Democrats will spend the next 100 days laying out what he dubbed a ”blueprint for a better America"
  • Democrats only need to flip a handful of seats in next year's midterms to win control of the House. Jeffries is poised to become speaker should Democrats prove successful in flipping the chamber.

The event had the air of a campaign rally. A crowd of union members and advocates gathered in a theater near Capitol Hill to hear Jeffries’ call for a new path forward. 

Throughout his remarks, the Brooklynite sprinkled in personal anecdotes about his childhood and his family — something he rarely does. 

“The American people deserve compassionate leadership. The American people deserve courageous leadership that changes things for the better,” he said. “Our message to the American people is simple: We hear you, we see you, we feel you. Democrats are determined to make life better for you.”

“Republicans in Congress could put a stop to this insanity at any time. Since they won't, next November, we will,” he continued, invoking next year’s midterm elections, when Democrats hope to win back control of Congress. 

Democrats only need to pick up a handful of seats to flip the House. Jeffries is poised to become speaker should Democrats prove successful in winning control of the chamber.

A recent CNN poll showed Jeffries’ net favorability among Democrats and Democratic leaning adults has slipped since January, from net positive 37 points to net positive 31 points.

Sen. Chuck Schumer of Brooklyn, the Senate’s top Democrat, has seen his poll numbers slip even further — likely tied to his decision to allow a GOP spending bill, seen by some as a major leverage opportunity for Democrats to counter Trump, to advance in March. 

In Washington, Democrats are hunting for a way out of the political wilderness, and rank-and-file party members are eager to see their leaders get aggressive. 

On Sunday, Jeffries joined with Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey for a 12 hour sit-in on the House steps, where they criticized the sweeping budget cuts proposed by Republicans and what the reductions could mean for Medicaid and other federal programs. 

“This is a time to choose, and we’re either going to choose the side of the American people or we’re going to choose this cruel budget that Republicans are trying to jam down the throats of the American people,” Jeffries said in the early hours of the sit-in.

As part of his Wednesday speech, Jeffries said House Democrats will spend the next 100 days laying out what he dubbed a "blueprint for a better America” — an early start on what could be a midterm agenda and messaging strategy.