House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York posted a video from a press conference on X stating that House Democrats will clean up the mess in Washington, get big money out of politics, and ban members of Congress from trading stocks. The clip shows Jeffries speaking at a podium with American flags and House of Representatives seals behind him. Online users reacted after the post, with many replies questioning the statement in light of his reported campaign contributions and past Democratic positions on the issue.
In the clip, Jeffries stands at a podium with American and House of Representatives flags behind him. Responding to a question about addressing current issues, he states, “We need to reverse the Medicaid cuts. We need to reverse the SNAP cuts. We need to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.”
He continues, “We’ve got to get big money out of politics and end Citizens United. We have to make sure that we’re cleaning up the mess here in Congress with the executive branch and at the Supreme Court, and that should begin by prohibiting members of Congress from trading stock.” The video does not show the full exchange or reactions from others in the room.
According to the post’s caption, “House Democrats will clean up the mess in Washington, get big money out of politics and ban members of Congress from trading stocks.” The remarks align with earlier statements Jeffries has made supporting a ban on individual stock trading by members of Congress.
Public polling has long shown broad support for such a restriction, and bipartisan bills on the topic have been introduced in recent years, though none have become law. It is not clear from the footage whether Jeffries addressed specific prior votes or competing proposals on the issue.
How Users Responded to the House Minority Leader’s Post
Some users focused on the policy proposals themselves. One commenter wrote, “Stock Trade Start is GOOD LOW FRUIT!” and listed it among other priorities.
Others questioned the consistency of the message with past actions or funding sources. “You’ve already failed taking out the biggest ‘mess’ on day one. How big is ‘big money’? AIPAC money doesn’t count?” one reply stated.
Another said, “You ARE the mess in Washington.”
Several commenters referenced Nancy Pelosi’s trading history, with one noting, “Ban stock trading, says the party that watched Pelosi turn a salary into a hedge fund. Clean up starts at home, Hakeem.”
Additional replies focused on campaign money and broader accountability. One user asked, “Are you returning your PAC money? PAC money is big money, meaning you vote for them and not your constituents.”
The debate over congressional stock trading and the role of big money in politics continues, and Jeffries’ remarks add another moment to the ongoing discussion.
