Politics
WATCH: Maxine Waters Struggles Through Basic Statement: ‘The Hall Street Journal’
It wasn’t supposed to be a standout moment. But when Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) began reading prepared remarks during a hearing this week, the internet took notice—not because of what she said, but how she said it.
On Wednesday, during a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Waters engaged in a pointed exchange with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The 86-year-old congresswoman, who has been in office since 1991, stumbled repeatedly while trying to deliver a short statement on the economy, mispronouncing words, slurring others, and ultimately referring to the Wall Street Journal as the “Hall Street Journal.”
“In the first quarter since Trump took office, the United States economy shrank, with our gross des… domestic project—product—decreasing by 0.3 percent,” she read, visibly struggling. “We are falling behind while Canada, Europe, and China are racing ahead.”
The clip quickly went viral, highlighting the issue of congressional age limits—or lack thereof. Waters, currently serving her 18th term, has sway over national economic discourse. Yet moments like this have increasingly fueled bipartisan concerns about mental acuity in elected office.
WATCH:
This isn’t the first time Waters has raised eyebrows with her on-camera presence. But with public trust in Congress already scraping historic lows, the moment adds to the growing sentiment that Washington, D.C. needs fresh leadership—and perhaps a hard conversation about cognitive fitness standards.
Waters has vocally opposed President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal.
REACTIONS:
I am thinking about subscribing to the Hall Street Journal.
— Steve McGuire (@stevemcguire49) May 9, 2025
Well yeah, its because her staffers almost assuredly wrote that, and she likely had just been given it before the hearing.
— Daniel (@BigDan62480) May 9, 2025
I was way more eloquent in 3rd grade!
— Brett Casey (@brettcasey) May 9, 2025
Time for the retirement home, Maxine.
— Elvis Batman© (@EllisWa38451751) May 9, 2025
Research has demonstrated that prolonged use of wig glue over decades may reduce cognitive abilities to levels comparable to those of a third grader.
— tonyinla20 (@tonyinla20) May 9, 2025
