LEADER JEFFRIES ON FOX NEWS: “THIS IS DAY 100 OF DONALD TRUMP’S RECKLESS AND COSTLY WAR OF CHOICE”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on Fox News' The Sunday Briefing with Jacqui Heinrich, where he highlighted Democrats' commitment to ending Donald Trump's war of choice in the Middle East, lowering the high cost of living and pushing back on the corruption being unleashed by Republicans in Washington, DC and across the country.

Leader Jeffries on Donald Trump's war in Iran: We as Democrats-and Republicans-particularly in an environment right now where this is day 100 of Donald Trump's reckless and costly war of choice, have to be focused on ensuring, one, that we always, at all times, protect the national security interests of the American people. That's not what's happening right now as it relates to what's going on in Iran. In fact, Iran is stronger now than they were before this reckless and costly war of choice was started and life is more expensive, particularly as it relates to gas prices. And so, as it relates to national security interests, I think front and center right now is ensuring that the Senate moves on the Democratic resolution that just passed the House of Representatives to actually end this reckless and costly war of choice and put the American people first, which is what the President promised that he was going to do. Not start wars in the Middle East, but stop them. Unfortunately, the Trump administration has turned around and done the exact opposite.

Leader Jeffries on Republican failure to lower costs: This Republican-controlled Congress has failed the people of this country. They promised to lower costs on day one. Costs haven't gone down. Costs have gone up. The cost of living in this country is out of control. There are far too many people of every race, of every region, all across this country who are working hard, they're playing by the rules, but they are unable to actually thrive. They can barely survive. People are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. So as House Democrats, we're going to continue to focus on driving down the high cost of living and addressing the problems that the American people have asked us to confront.

Leader Jeffries on Bill Pulte and U.S. National Security: The policies haven't changed, but the people in office certainly have. And in fact, the FISA court has expressed concern that there have been violations of policy as it relates to this current administration. The other thing that should be pointed out is that we're being asked to trust the privacy and the national security interests of the American people, not just to Donald Trump, but also to Kash Patel and now Bill Pulte, who has been put forward as the Acting Director of National Intelligence. Republicans have criticized that nomination, or Donald Trump elevating this particular individual, because he has no national security background, he has no law enforcement background and he has no military background. He is deeply unqualified. It's dangerous to put him in the office. And so, yes, there are real concerns as it relates to moving forward with FISA 702 at a moment in time, particularly when the President injected this hand grenade in the middle of sensitive negotiations…Bill Pulte will jeopardize the safety and the security of the American people if he's allowed to proceed in this position as Director of National Intelligence. That's not a partisan position, by the way. Democrats and Republicans have a big problem with this, including Senate Majority Leader, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Now, as it relates to FISA 702, you've got Democrats and Republicans on both sides of this issue. We recognize the importance of the tool as a vehicle to protect the national security interests of the American people, while at the same time, we have to protect the privacy and the civil liberties of the American people and you've got people on both sides of this issue.