Hakeem Jeffries Praises Chuck Schumer for Leading ‘Valiant Fight’ Amid Furious Calls for His Ouster

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) offered a message of support for embattled Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as the latter faces furious calls for his resignation over his handling of the government shutdown.

Jeffries praised Schumer when asked by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer whether he agreed the 74-year-0ld should be replaced as minority leader, a demand made by several Democratic colleagues after eight lawmakers crossed party lines to vote in favor of a resolution to end the government shutdown.

Instead of criticism, Jeffries praised the “valiant fight” put up by Schumer and like-minded lawmakers to “stand up in defense of the health, the safety, and the economic well-being of the American people.”

Read the exchange below:

WOLF BLITZER: What do you think, Leader Jeffries? Do you agree with Ro Khanna? Do you think Schumer should be replaced?

HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Leader Schumer did not bless this agreement. He voted against it. And of course, Senate Democrats who voted “no” have made that clear. And what we’ve seen from Senate Democrats over the last seven weeks has been part of a valiant fight that we have waged together to stand up in defense of the health, the safety, and the economic well-being of the American people. And we know Senate Democrats voted down the partisan Republican spending bill that gutted the health care of the American people 15 or 16 different times. And listen, it’s unfortunate that you had eight or so Democrats, seven Democrats who made the decision to vote in a different way than the overwhelming majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus. And what you’ll see from the overwhelming majority of House Democrats when the bill comes over to us. But they’re going to have to explain themselves. This fight continues. And over the last several weeks, we have successfully elevated this health care issue such that the American people are demanding action, and now it’s going to be on Mike Johnson and house Republicans to demonstrate. Are they willing to actually do something for someone other than the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected? And as an opportunity to do it by making sure that the affordable care act tax credits are extended. Every single Democrat stands behind that proposition in the house. Let’s see what the Republicans decide to do tomorrow.

Watch above via CNN.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!