House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) angrily snapped at a MAGA reporter on Thursday after they asked him about Democratic "pet projects" that are allegedly included in the continuing resolution to reopen the government.
Lindell TV reporter Allison Steinberg asked Jeffries about certain foreign spending programs during a press conference on the government shutdown. Jeffries became visibly flustered as Steinberg asked about alleged programs like spending $13.4 million for civic engagement in Zimbabwe and $3.9 million for LGBTQ democracy grants in the Balkans.
"We have no idea what you're talking about, or what Republican extremist fed you those talking points!" Jeffries said, looking to Reps. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) and Katherine Clark (D-MA).
"What we are doing is defending the health care of the American people," he continued. "Yeah, we do want to restore the fact that the largest cut to Medicaid has been visited upon the American people by Donald Trump, even though they promised to cherish and love Medicaid."
Republicans have tried to blame Democrats for the government shutdown by arguing that they are trying to include partisan spending programs in the bill to fund the government. Democrats don't deny that they want to restore the cuts to Medicaid from Trump's budget, but argue that Republicans have refused to negotiate.
"They cut about $1 trillion from Medicaid, and as a result of that fact, hospitals, nursing homes, and community-based health centers are closing all across the country, including in Republican states like Georgia and Alabama," Jeffries said. "That's what we want to restore."
Jeffries Doesn’t Deny $13M for Zimbabwe. He Just Calls You an Extremist for Asking.
$13.4 million for civic engagement in Zimbabwe. $3.9 million for LGBTQ democracy grants in the Balkans.
When asked by LindellTV's @alisonintheknow about these foreign programs buried in… pic.twitter.com/VZKygEFDHe
— LindellTV (@RealLindellTV) October 22, 2025