Hakeem Jeffries, the Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, criticized Republican leaders on Monday, saying that despite their promises to lower the cost of living for everyday Americans, they have done the opposite. He called the introduction and threat of tariffs on the nation's largest trading partners a 'Republican rip-off.'
The tariffs imposed or threatened will not lower cost for the average American, they will raise them, Jeffries said during a short press conference in Brooklyn.
"Life is already too expensive in the United Stated of America," the Brooklyn congressman said, noting that housing, groceries, insurance and childcare costs are already too high.
The tariffs will raise the cost of food, gas, car and place a burden on working- and middle-class Americans, said Jeffries. "Why is this all happening? What is this Republican rip-off all about? Why are they constantly trying to steal tax payer money from the American people?"
President Donald Trump initially declared a plan to place a 10% tariff on all imports from China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada, according to the Associated Press. Energy imported from Canada, including oil, natural gas and electricity, would be taxed at 10%. The targeted countries are the nation's three largest trading partners and the tax is supposed to be implemented on everything from avocados to tomatoes to lumber on Tuesday.
On Monday morning, Mexico said it will send additional personnel to secure the southern border, staving off the tariff by a month so officials could negotiate further.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would place a matching 25% tariff on U.S. imports and urged Canadians to “choose Canadian products” when shopping. Multiple premiers of Canadian provinces said they would be removing American alcohol brands from government store shelves, according to the AP.
"All Washington Republicans want to do is pass tax cuts for billionaire donors and wealthy corporations and stick every day Americans with the bill," Jeffries said.
Democrats will support and defend Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, veterans benefits, nutritional assistance to children and families, he added. That said, the congressman said he would work with Republicans to fix the "broken immigration system" and secure the southern border. Amid deportations that have occurred during the last two weeks, Jeffries said said he will protect Dreamers, or undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, and immigrant farmers and families.
"We want to find common ground, if they're interested in doing things that matter, like driving down the high cost of living in America," Jeffries said.
Democrats are united to fix the "broken American dream," so everyday Americans can obtain a job, can get an education and buy a home, he said.