Hakeem Jeffries stood in front of reporters Monday and admitted he had not read a resolution asking Congress to say socialism is bad.
Republicans forced every House Democrat on record this week anyway – and not one committee Democrat voted yes.
What Jeffries told reporters about the anti-socialism resolution is something every American needs to hear.
Democrats Couldn't Say the Word
The House Rules Committee voted Monday to advance a resolution condemning socialism – and not one Democrat on the committee voted yes.
Not one.
Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts called the bill "nonsense."
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania said Republicans were trying to "scare people with yet another boogeyman."
And Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House, told reporters he hadn't "taken a look" at the resolution when asked if he supported it.
https://twitter.com/Jan812314/status/2094771896491319522?s=20
Think about that for a moment.
Meanwhile, DSA-backed candidates have won 123 primaries this cycle – knocking off a 15-term Democrat in Denver, winning the Democrat Senate nomination in Michigan, and electing an actual self-described socialist as mayor of New York City.
The socialists did not need to study anything.
They already know what they believe.
The Party Jeffries Can No Longer Control
House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain spelled it out plainly: "It's time for the Democrats to pick a side. Stop playing the middle. Be proud of who you are. You were elected to lead, so lead."
That is exactly what Democrats refused to do.
Jeffries told NBC's Kristen Welker two weeks ago that he does not support the DSA agenda – but he also said that DSA-elected members will be part of his caucus in January 2027 if they win in November.
https://twitter.com/MichaelARothman/status/2093346852955721839?s=20
He doesn't support their agenda.
He just wants their votes.
That is the position Jeffries has staked out – and Republicans just made it impossible to hide.
On Wednesday, the House will also vote on a constitutional amendment to cap the Supreme Court at nine justices – forcing Democrats to go on record against the court-packing scheme championed by Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Ed Markey.
Two votes, two traps, and Democrats walked right into both of them.
This Is Not a Fringe Problem
The DSA did not sneak into the Democrat Party.
It marched in through the front door while party leaders held it open.
In 2023, when Congress last forced a similar vote, 86 House Democrats voted against condemning socialism – and that was before Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City, before DSA candidates toppled incumbents from Philadelphia to Denver, and before a CBS News poll showed 58% of Democrats view socialism more favorably than capitalism.
Rep. Nick Langworthy of New York watched this happen up close: "I've seen firsthand the alarming rise of socialism – families in western New York have watched one-party rule in Albany pile on more taxes, more mandates, more government control, while hardworking taxpayers are left to foot the bill."
Jeffries called the resolution a vehicle for "voter suppression" – which is Democratic for "I cannot say socialism is bad without losing half my caucus."
https://twitter.com/foxnewspolitics/status/2090790537465053385?s=20
James Carville called DSA activists a "pack of fools."
Jeffries called them future colleagues.
That is the Democrat Party right now – caught between a veteran strategist who knows they are losing and a socialist movement that knows it is winning.
The November vote will tell us which one of them is correct.
Sources:
- Elizabeth Elkind, "Tensions erupt in House hearing as GOP advances anti-socialism resolution while Dems rage: 'Silly season'," Fox News, August 31, 2026.
- "Socialism surges among Democrats as party leaders reject DSA agenda: 'Pack of fools'," Fox News, August 2026.
- "House Democrats Push Counter-Amendment As Republicans Force Anti-Socialism Vote," Congress.net, August 2026.
- "Meet the far-left insurgents waging war on the Democratic establishment in 2026 midterms," Fox News, July 13, 2026.
- Lisa McClain, House Republican Conference Chair, statement to Fox News Digital, August 31, 2026.
- "86 House Democrats Vote Against Resolution Condemning Socialism," The Daily Signal, February 2023.
- Spencer Lombardo, "Hakeem Jeffries Punts on Adopting Socialist Agenda as New Polling Shows Dems Embracing It Over Capitalism," The Daily Caller, August 2026.