Hakeem Jeffries Invokes Civil War Era at Capitol ‘Sit-In’ Against Trump Budget: ‘There Are But Two Parties in America Right Now: Patriots and Traitors’
New York Democrat and House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries at a “sit-in” on Capitol Hill Sunday compared the United States today to the time of the Civil War, referencing a quote from Gen. Ulysses Grant that there are only two parties in America now: “patriots and traitors.”
Several Democrats took part in the hours-long “sit-in” on Capitol Hill against the budget proposals from President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers, led by Jeffries and Sen. Cory Booker, along with other guest speakers.
After hearing from Rev. William Barber, who talked about putting “principles over party,” Jeffries brought up the Civil War to describe the current climate of the United States.
“Reminds me of a letter that Ulysses Grant was said to have sent at the start of the Civil War.” Jeffries said. He set the tone and comparison by describing the Civil War as a “moment of great turmoil in the country, the country literally tearing itself apart,” and then approximated a quote attributed to Grant, including the necessity of sustaining the nation, government, and laws.
Jeffries then said that Grant “said something even deeper than that” before going on with his version of the quote.
“What Grant said is, ‘There are but two parties in America right now: patriots and traitors,'” Jeffries said, as the small crowd voiced agreement with that as a description of today. He then added that they are calling on Republicans to put the American people first in the upcoming budget debate.
“Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, this is an American moment, and we need the American people to show up and stand up and speak up and partner with us,” he said.
Here is the direct quote from Grant’s letter:
Whatever may have been my political opinions before, I have but one sentiment now. That is, we have a government, and laws and a flag, and they must all be sustained. There are but two parties now, traitors and patriots, and I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter, and I trust, the stronger party.
Jeffries is not the first person in politics to reference that quote in recent years. Trump ally Roger Stone took some heat for using the quote in 2022, and CNN’s Jake Tapper referenced it in 2021 with regard to Republican efforts to overturn the election results.
“We’re going to get through this moment,” Jeffries said to conclude that part of his remarks on Sunday. “We’re gonna end this national nightmare.”
Principles over party. It reminds me, I think that’s a powerful moment for us. Reminds me of a letter that Ulysses Grant was said to have sent at the start of the Civil War. Of course, the great general who subsequently became president.
And at that moment of great turmoil in the country, the country literally tearing itself apart, Grant wrote that “Whatever my prior political positions have been, my prior opinions have been up until this point, I have but only one objective now.”
And Grant then said, “We have a government and laws and a flag and they must all be sustained.” Government, laws, and a Flag. And they must all be sustained.
And then he said something even deeper than that, because at that time in American history, there were multiple parties. We’re in a two-party system right now, but there were several parties. And what Grant said is, “There are but two parties in America right now: patriots and traitors.”
And at this moment, when Reverend Barber talked about the need for us to put principle over party, we’re calling upon our Republican colleagues, as we approach this budget, to put the American people first. To center the American people, and the principle of making life better for everybody.
Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, this is an American moment, and we need the American people to show up and stand up and speak up and partner with us. And we’re going to get through this moment, we’re gonna end this national nightmare.
Watch the clip above via Sen. Cory Booker on X.
