Watch the video: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries begins his extended remarks, employing his “magic minute” to stall the passage of President Trump’s comprehensive legislation on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
(NEXSTAR) — In a dramatic display of political strategy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) utilized his “magic minute” for over seven hours to challenge President Donald Trump’s substantial proposed legislation, known as the “big, beautiful bill.” This unfolded as House Republicans prepared to advance the bill in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Despite some Republican resistance, several holdouts were convinced to back the bill, paving the way for final discussions during the early morning hours.
As these debates reached their climax, Jeffries took to the floor around 5 a.m. ET, determined to make his case against the extensive legislation. By 10:30 a.m. ET, he was still speaking, resolutely committed to taking his time.
How did a single minute of allotted speaking time stretch into this marathon address?
This instance differs from the record-breaking filibuster earlier this year by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who spoke for over 25 hours to protest budget cuts associated with a GOP tax bill, engaging with fellow Democrats while maintaining control of the floor.
Jeffries’ “magic minute” operates under a House tradition that allows him to prolong his initial 60 seconds to utilize time after debates have concluded, as highlighted by The New York Times.
As of Thursday morning, it remains uncertain how long Jeffries will continue his oratory. Should he aim for the record set by former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), he would need to keep speaking past 1:26 p.m. ET.
Regardless of the length of his speech, it’s improbable that Jeffries will succeed in thwarting the impending passage of this massive bill. With a slim margin, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) can afford to lose only three votes, assuming full attendance by members, yet the bill is expected to clear the House.
This outcome would represent a significant achievement for Trump and his party, consolidating numerous priorities into what they describe as his “one big beautiful bill,” encompassing over 800 pages. With Democrats united in their opposition, this legislation is poised to define Trump’s political comeback alongside the Republican domination of Congress.
Throughout his address, Jeffries, along with other Democrats, has urged Republicans to reconsider their stance and to vote against this legislation. As Jeffries spoke, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) called upon the public to contact their representatives and advocate for the bill’s defeat.
Reported with contributions from the Associated Press.