WATCH: Hakeem Jeffries Seethes As CNBC Hosts Bring Out Receipts, Expose Party’s Shutdown

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was left visibly rattled during a fiery CNBC segment this week after host Joe Kernen confronted him over the Democrats’ role in the ongoing federal government shutdown. What began as a routine interview quickly turned into an on-air dismantling, as Kernen cited the party’s own legislative record and accused Democrats of hypocrisy for weaponizing the shutdown to score political points.

The exchange came amid a grinding stalemate that has shuttered large parts of the federal government since October 1, leaving nearly a million workers furloughed and key services suspended. The dispute centers on spending levels and funding for health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, with both sides blaming each other for refusing to negotiate.

But on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Jeffries found himself cornered.

“There was an election and Republicans were put in a position where they were able to pass the Big Beautiful Bill—or you call it the big ugly bill,” Kernen said. “To then say, ‘We don’t like any of that, so we’re going to shut down the government until you take back all the things that you duly passed through legislation.’ If Republicans had tried to do that to the Inflation Reduction Act or any of the acts that Biden passed, you’d be going crazy.”

The CNBC host didn’t stop there, accusing Democrats of setting a “bad precedent” by refusing to support a continuing resolution that could reopen the government immediately.

“After an election where the American people put Democrats in power, you’d be going crazy about using a shutdown of the government to get what you want,” Kernen said bluntly. “You’re talking about the House. You’ve already passed this. The Senate has a bill that would reopen the government right now with five more Democrats.”

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Jeffries, growing increasingly defensive, fired back by accusing Republicans of “refusing to engage in bipartisan negotiations.” He claimed that it was the GOP’s “my way or the highway” attitude that triggered the standoff.

“What is bad precedent is the Republican refusal to engage in bipartisan negotiations,” Jeffries said. “Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the presidency. So if the government shuts down, they’ve made the decision to shut the government down. They can reopen it right now if they choose to.”

But Kernen quickly cut in, pressing Jeffries on whether Democrats were willing to reopen the government first and negotiate afterward—something the White House has resisted. The CNBC panel noted that Speaker Mike Johnson had already put forth a “clean” continuing resolution with no partisan riders, undercutting Jeffries’ claim that Republicans were blocking progress.

Despite repeated opportunities to answer whether Democrats would accept that deal, Jeffries pivoted back to talking points about a “health care crisis” and “Republican cruelty.”

The political brawl is unfolding as the economic impact grows. Analysts estimate the shutdown is costing the U.S. economy roughly $7 billion per week, with air travel delays mounting and more than 34,000 IRS employees furloughed. Federal parks, museums, and agencies across the country are shuttered, and the White House has hinted that back pay for furloughed employees is not guaranteed unless Congress specifically appropriates it.

As the back-and-forth dragged on, Jeffries attempted to shift blame to Johnson and Senate Republicans, claiming they “refused to engage” until the eve of the shutdown. But the exchange had already done the damage: Kernen’s calm, fact-based questioning left the Democratic leader visibly exasperated.

Polls show public frustration rising, and both parties are bracing for blame. But moments like Jeffries’ CNBC appearance could prove costly for Democrats. For Republicans, the moment underscored their message: Democrats, not the GOP, are prolonging the shutdown to push ideological spending priorities. For Jeffries, the clip may become a defining image of the 2025 shutdown—one where the “receipts” came out, and the spin finally hit a wall.

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