House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries will give a speech Wednesday to counter President Trump’s messaging about his first 100 days in office and outline his party’s vision for the country.
Mr. Jeffries, of New York, announced his plan for the speech in a “dear colleague” letter sent to House Democrats on Monday.
“Donald Trump and Rubber Stamp Republicans in Congress are crashing the economy, driving us toward a recession and assaulting the American way of life,” he said. “On Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m., I will deliver a speech talking to the country about the first 100 days and outlining a blueprint for a better America.”
Tuesday marks Mr. Trump’s 100th day in office, which the president plans to celebrate with a rally in Michigan, one of the seven swing states he won against former Vice President Kamala Harris last November.
Ms. Harris, who has made few public appearances since losing the presidential contest, is set to give her own speech on Wednesday night in California. She will provide the keynote address at the 20th anniversary gala for Emerge, an organization that recruits and trains Democratic women who want to run for office.
Although Ms. Harris is still considered a party leader, Mr. Jeffries’ speech will likely provide more of an immediate vision for Democrats as they head into the 2026 midterm election cycle.
Democrats have a much better shot of flipping the House than the Senate in the midterms, which will largely serve as a referendum on Mr. Trump, even though he won’t be on the ballot.
In his letter, Mr. Jeffries thanked his colleagues for their efforts to speak out against the GOP agenda, including hundreds of events they held across the country over the last two weeks while Congress was in recess.
Democrats held “days of action” focused on the cost of living and protecting Medicaid and Social Security from Republican budget cuts, including events in GOP lawmakers’ districts.
“Republicans are running away from their constituents,” Mr. Jeffries said. “House Democrats will continue to embrace them.”
On Sunday, to mark Congress’ return to Washington, Mr. Jeffries and Sen. Cory Booker, New Jersey Democrat, held a 12-hour sit-in on the Capitol steps to protest potential cuts to Medicaid and other safety net programs in budget reconciliation legislation Republicans are drafting.
That same day, Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York sent his caucus a “dear colleague” letter highlighting the party’s messaging events from the recess and decrying Mr. Trump’s first 100 days as “hell for the American people.”
“Unsurprisingly, he has the lowest 100-day job approval any president has seen in 80 years,” Mr. Schumer said.
He and Senate Democrats are planning to mark Mr. Trump’s 100th day on Tuesday with late-night floor speeches discussing his “disastrous” tenure. They will join House Democrats for additional events on Wednesday.
“As we hammer at the Republican agenda day after day, Americans will see the stark contrast between Democratic unity and Republican disarray,” Mr. Schumer said. “Democrats are firmly united to lower people’s costs, protect families’ health care, and hold this Administration accountable.”
