Jeffries compares Trump to ‘old boyfriend’ who ‘won’t go away’

CHICAGO — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) struck an optimistic note at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, predicting his party would take back the majority in the lower chamber come November.

“Nothing can stop Kamala Harris from becoming the 47th president of the United States of America,” Jeffries told the crowd at Chicago’s United Center. “Nothing can stop House Democrats from taking back the majority.”

“Here’s how we do it,” he said before quoting from the Bible. “Strategize on Sunday. Meet the moment on Monday. Take it to them on Tuesday. Work it out on Wednesday. Thank the Lord on Thursday. Fight the power on Friday. Set it off on Saturday. Get a few hours of sleep, wake up the next day, and do it all over again until joy, joy, joy comes in the morning.”

Jeffries described Joe Biden “as one of the most consequential presidents of all time,” remarks that come weeks after he reportedly told the president he feared losses in House races if he did not step aside as the Democrats’ presidential nominee. Under pressure from Jeffries and other congressional leaders, the president ultimately bowed out, endorsing Vice President Harris’s bid to take over the ticket.

“Last month, President Biden selflessly passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, who is ready, willing, and able to fight for the people,” Jeffries said.

The House leader praised Harris as someone who “will always put people over politics” and would be a partner to congressional Democrats to lower costs, reform the immigration system and policing, and counter the climate crisis.

“Kamala Harris and House Democrats will protect Social Security, protect Medicare, protect Medicaid, protect the Affordable Care Act, protect working families, protect the middle class, protect small businesses, protect free enterprise, protect our children, protect our seniors, protect our veterans, protect our unions, protect our DREAMers, protect our democracy, and we will always protect a woman’s freedom to make her own reproductive healthcare decisions,” he said.

But Jeffries earned his biggest applause line in criticizing former President Donald Trump, whom he compared to “an old boyfriend who you broke up with but he just won’t go away.”

“He has spent the last four years spinning the block, trying to get back into a relationship with the American people,” the lawmaker said. “Bro, we broke up with you for a reason.”

“Trump tried to destroy our democracy by lying about the election and inciting a violent mob to attack the Capitol,” he added. “Trump put three extreme justices on the Supreme Court who destroyed Roe v. Wade. We broke up with you for a reason. Donald Trump can spin the block all he wants, but there’s no reason for us to ever get back together. Been there, done that. We’re not going back.”

Harris will accept this election cycle’s Democratic nomination on Thursday.