• Hakeem Jeffries delivers the longest House speech in history, lasting 8 hours and 44 minutes.
• The speech serves as a protest against President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill,” which includes significant cuts to healthcare and welfare programs.
• Jeffries invokes "magic minute," a rule allowing party leaders unlimited speaking time, to delay the bill's passage.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has broken the record for the longest House floor speech in U.S. history, speaking for 8 hours and 44 minutes to protest President Donald Trump's major tax cut and spending bill. This occurred as Congress races to pass the "One Big Beautiful Bill," which Jeffries argues harms vulnerable Americans by cutting vital programs. "I feel an obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time...," said Jeffries during his marathon address, emphasizing the potential harm to health care beneficiaries, particularly in Medicaid and SNAP, as reported by HuffPost, Newsweek, and CBS News.

Jeffries began speaking at 4:53 a.m. ET and concluded at 1:37 p.m., effectively using the "magic minute" procedure that grants party leaders unlimited speaking time during a legislative debate. This strategic approach has not only provided a platform for Jeffries to voice his criticisms but also delayed the expected vote on the bill significantly, according to ABC News and Los Angeles Times.

Throughout his lengthy speech, Jeffries spoke against the proposed cuts, labeling the legislation as "immoral" and a direct assault on health care. He warned that up to 11.8 million Americans could lose their health insurance if the bill passes. Jeffries’s remarks were supported by Democratic colleagues who applauded and encouraged him as he addressed the chamber, stating, "This reckless Republican budget is an immoral document..." according to India Times, TRT Global, and SFGate.

In the later stages of his speech, Jeffries resorted to engaging storytelling, referencing personal anecdotes and even biblical passages to evoke emotional responses among his listeners. "Take your sweet time," echoed from colleagues as he continued his critique of the Republican agenda, enriching the speech's thematic context around moral governance, as noted by HuffPost, CBS News, and Los Angeles Times.

As Jeffries completed his speech, GOP members were notably absent, with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith calling his lengthy address "a bunch of hogwash." However, Jeffries’s efforts succeeded in delaying the vote on Trump's tax bill until later in the day, showcasing the power of prolonged debate in the House, as confirmed by Newsweek and TRT Global.