Dem Leader Challenges Mike Johnson to Live, Primetime Debate Over Shutdown
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on Monday challenged House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to a live, primetime TV debate over the government shutdown, with the New York Democrat saying Johnson, Republicans, and President Donald Trump refuse “to provide healthcare to everyday Americans.”
Jeffries sent his offer to Johnson in a letter, which was shared by Axios reporter Andrew Solender on X.
“I write to challenge you to a debate on the Floor of the House of Representatives any day this week in primetime, broadcast live to the American people,” Jeffries started off his letter.
He then blasted Johnson for having House Republicans go “on vacation,” rather than negotiate with his caucus.
“Republicans have set in motion a healthcare crisis that has ended Medicaid as we know it and ripped coverage away from millions of working-class Americans,” Jeffries added.
His letter comes after Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), voted against a stopgap funding bill that would have kept the U.S. government open until Nov. 21; Schumer said the Dems voted against the bill because Republicans were not making enough concessions to his party’s healthcare demands.
Johnson, shortly after Jeffries challenged him, declined the offer. The House Speaker said it was “nonsense” and that Jeffries was “desperate” during a press conference.
“I respect him, but we all know what he’s trying to do there,” Johnson added.
Politico reported that it is expected to be a relatively quiet week in Washington, D.C., as Johnson keeps the chamber in recess while Republicans lobby Democrats to pass the seven-week continuing resolution that has already been approved by the Senate.
In related news, Johnson told MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Monday that he warned his “friend” Jeffries to “ignore” President Trump’s AI meme trolling because protesting would only “make it worse.” Jeffries was irate last week after the president posted a clip of him wearing a sombrero and mustache, saying it was “racist.”
