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Jeffries says he hopes Democrats remember after primaries ‘enemy is Donald Trump’

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DY) said Wednesday he hopes Democrats will remember that the party’s “enemy is Donald Trump” after the primaries are over.

MS NOW’s Jen Psaki spoke with Jeffries about Israel’s role in the New York Democratic primary. He asked Jeffries for his thoughts on the issue and how Democratic voters might have made the decision to remove pro-Israel officials based on the party’s support for Israel during the nearly three-year war in Gaza.

“For us as House Democrats, we are hopeful that once we get through this primary season, everyone will realize that the enemy is Donald Trump and MAGA extremism as we try to create the type of America that we all desire, where working-class people can live a comfortable life, an affordable life, and a good life when you work hard and play by the rules,” Jeffries said after a long answer.

In Tuesday’s New York races, Democratic candidates who have been vocal critics of the Israeli government and have led or participated in pro-Palestinian protests defeated incumbents who have shown support for Israel in the years after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Several of the winning New York Democratic Assembly candidates included former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander (D), Claire Valdez, and Darializa Avila Chevalier.

Jeffries told Psaki that he supports Israel’s right to exist and “the dignity, respect, autonomy and self-determination that the Palestinian people properly desire, and that we must find a just and lasting peace.”

However, Jeffries noted that Rep. Ritchie Torres (DY), a staunch defender of Israel, “ran against someone who was heavily critical of Ritchie Torres’ position on Israel, and he won by 50 points.”

“And, listen. I think at the end of the day, individual congressional districts and the beauty of this is they’re all made up of different groups with different perspectives on a wide variety of issues,” he said.

At the end of the interview, Psaki said the party was a “very diverse coalition.”

“I also think sometimes you learn a lot from elections,” he said with a smile.

The challengers who won the state’s Democratic primary were also endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), the organization’s leading member in the Big Apple. The mayor was also criticized for criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza during his campaign last year.

Democratic socialism has become more popular among progressive Democrats following the two presidential campaigns of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). His failed presidential bids inspired some who were unhappy with the Democratic Party’s response to Trump and the legislation that led to many DSA-affiliated candidates running for and winning office, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

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