WASHINGTON — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries drew sharp scrutiny Sunday after sidestepping questions about whether he supports the progressive Medicare for All proposal — and whether members of the Democratic Socialists of America have a place within the Democratic Party.
The reaction from the left was swift and intense.
“This man is so out of touch with his party. How is he their leader??” Mehdi Hasan, founder of the progressive media outlet Zeteo, wrote on social media, criticizing the New York Democrat.
Jeffries faced the question during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he was pressed on the multitrillion-dollar Medicare for All plan.
“I haven’t cosponsored the Medicare for All legislation that has been introduced over the last several years,” Jeffries said — despite having previously backed such legislation from 2013 to 2021.
“I do think we need to figure out how to fix our broken health care system and then build something better once we repair the damage that has been done,” he added.
Medicare for All has long been one of the most ambitious health care proposals in Democratic politics. A 2020 analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated the plan would cost, on average, between $2.5 trillion and $3.5 trillion per year over a decade. By comparison, the United States is currently facing a roughly $2 trillion deficit for fiscal year 2026.
Most versions of Medicare for All would eliminate copayments and deductibles. Some proposals go further, adding coverage for dental care, vision services and long-term care — benefits that would make the program far more expansive than traditional Medicare and likely push costs well beyond many standard estimates.
During Sunday’s interview, Jeffries also was coy over whether the DSA belongs in the Democratic Party.
“I don’t support the DSA agenda as has been articulated by the DSA itself,” Jeffries responded when asked about the idea.
“It’s going to be a broad caucus,” he said of Democrats’ upcoming election slate. “There will be progressives. There will be New Dems. There will be Blue Dogs. What I’m excited about are the candidates who are running to flip seats in November.”
The top House Dem ticked through some of the DSA’s top wishlist items and explained his opposition to some of the views that are seen as politically toxic.
“What I can say is I do not support defunding the police,” he said. “I do not support open borders; I do not support abolishing the Senate.
“We’re focused on actually solving the problems hard-working American taxpayers want us to solve, which is to lower the high cost of living.”
Jeffries also said that he wants to dramatically reform Immigration and Customs Enforcement when asked if he backs calls to abolish the agency.
Lefty journo Hasan claimed in his criticism of Jeffries, “A reminder that the vast majority of Democrats across the country support Medicare for All.”
“Breaking Points” co-host Krystal Ball sniped, “He’s got a concept of a plan.”
Secular Talk host Kyle Kulinski, who is married to Ball, raged of Jeffries, “He needs to step down.
“Between this and his Israel position he’s actively hurting our chances of defeating MAGA fascism. This is completely unacceptable.”
“Bad Faith” host Briahna Joy Gray swiped, “So many DSAers worked so hard to get candidates like AOC & Zohran elected all for them to pledge loyalty to Zionist, anti-single payer corporatists like Jeffries.”
