DPCC Co-Chair Jeffries: President Trump is Undermining Our National Security
National Security
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy & Communications Committee (DPCC), appeared on CNN Situation Room to discuss how President Trump consistently fails to protect the American people by undermining our national security. While the President continues to create confusion, chaos and crisis, Democrats remain committed to building A Better Deal for American working families that delivers better jobs, better wages and a better future for all Americans. Below are excerpts from each interview and links to each video.
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"This is a classic example of White House misdirection. I mean, we've spent the last year plus with a Trump administration trying to convince the American people that up is down, black is white, that the sun is the moon. And this is another example of trying on cast blame on someone other than the dysfunction within 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
"As was just illustrated, the buck stops with the President and the White House as it relates to making sure that people charged with protecting the safety and security of the American people as members of the executive branch at the highest possible level, have a security clearance. They consistently failed to do so, is frightening. It actually undermines our national security, jeopardizes the safety and security of the American people, and that's highly problematic. The appropriate next step would be for Members of the House of Representatives and the United States Senate to conduct oversight hearings to get to the bottom of what happened.
"But you know, the American people shouldn't hold their breath, at least as it relates to what's been happening in the House of Representatives, where there's been a meaningful failure to undertake our responsibilities of being a check and balance on the executive branch. But the American people do deserve answers. They deserve a functioning government. They deserve for us in the Congress to try to get to the bottom of what has been happening with all of the chaos, crisis and confusion emanating from the Trump administration.
"Maybe my colleagues in the House of Representatives will decide to finally undertake their oversight responsibilities. Hopefully, that will be the case. I'm not sure. I've been very disappointed with the White House Chief of Staff, in particular. He was supposed to be the adult in the room and was supposed to get things under control in terms of Donald Trump, perhaps encouraging him to behave in a more presidential fashion.
"And what we've seen instead is that, essentially, the White House Chief of Staff, Mr. Kelly, has become more like Donald Trump in his consistent behavior. That's been very disappointing. I think the American people deserve better. And as it relates to the White House counsel, again, we need some further clarity as to whether he has been facilitating some of Donald Trump's worst tendencies at times or, in other instances, apparently, refuse to do things like execute the order to fire the special counsel.
"It can't be an easy job to work within the White House at this particular point in time, but they still owe an obligation to the American people to do the right thing, and it's not clear that they've met that test."