On Friday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press briefing during CODEL in Denmark.
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00:00Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Leader. It's been a high honor and a privilege to be here in Denmark, interacting with members of the government, as well as members of the business community, all in connection with the important and continuing and special relationship between the United States and Denmark.
00:27Let me be clear to the people of Denmark that the relationship between our two countries is important, has been strong, and must remain that way moving forward.
00:46Denmark is not a bad ally to the United States of America. Denmark has been a tremendous ally, particularly over the last 80 years, as we've worked together to build a rules-based society throughout the world.
01:07And it is in fact the case that whenever the United States has called upon the Danish people to join us on the battlefield in defense of our shared values,
01:25including in the immediate aftermath of the horrific attack on America on September 11th, that the people of Denmark have unequivocally answered that call.
01:43Denmark has been a tremendous ally to the United States of America, and we value this relationship.
01:52On this congressional delegation trip, we've been joined by a variety of distinguished members from throughout the country who represent the gorgeous mosaic of the American people who are here today.
02:09And I just want to acknowledge their presence from right to left.
02:14We've got Greg Lansman from the great state of Ohio, Stacey Plaskett from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Marilyn Strickland from the great state of Washington.
02:26We've got Laura Friedman from California.
02:31The great state of California didn't mean that to be a slight.
02:34Madeleine Dean from the Commonwealth, as we refer to it, of Pennsylvania.
02:42And let me now yield before we take questions to Gregory Meeks from the great state of New York.
02:51Thank you, Leader Jeffries.
02:53Ladies, let me thank you for having the vision and the wisdom to make sure that on this trip, we stopped here in the beautiful and distinguished country of Denmark.
03:05I want to say thank you first to all of the people of Denmark.
03:09As Leader Jeffries said, for your standing by our side at every turn, never have we ever had to doubt where Denmark was with reference to the United States of America.
03:27We are tied together.
03:30We know that alliances deserve and need to have certainty.
03:41And as members of Congress, we are here to say we are going to give you that certainty.
03:48We're going to stand by you as you have stood by us.
03:54We've watched what you've done and the success you've had in Ukraine.
04:00And we understand that Russia is a threat not only to Ukraine, but to all of NATO.
04:10And the United States is still a part of NATO.
04:13We will continue to be a part of NATO, which means that Russia is a threat to all of us.
04:21And when you face those threats, as we've had in the past, the only way to do it is together.
04:28We will stand together with Ukraine.
04:33We will stand together with NATO.
04:36We will stand together on this issue of tariffs also.
04:41We know that tariffs are taxes that raises the cost for the American people, as well as trust for our friends and our allies.
04:58And we've heard Denmark's concerns.
05:03I want you to know that we've listened.
05:06And we've heard those concerns.
05:08And that's another reason why we're here.
05:10To make sure that you know that we're not turning our back.
05:14We heard and we have listened.
05:17And we are going to make sure that Congress, who has the responsibility for tariffs, stands forward and makes sure that we are not losing the faith and the trust of our friends and allies like the Danes.
05:39And so history has shown us that when we do this thing together, like Greenland, what we've done together, you know, since 1951, we've had military bases there.
06:00Thank you again to the Danish people working and making sure that the Arctic is safe.
06:07We've heard when we've met with your prime minister and we're going to meet with the foreign minister tomorrow.
06:15We met with the minister of defense and we met with the minister of business.
06:23And we've heard collectively how we're going to work together.
06:26So I say to the people from Greenland, we intend to come to visit again, to see and to learn and come at a time that you say is good for us to come so that we can continue to work together to protect the Arctic.
06:44So that we stand against collectively Russia and China because they do not share the same values that we have and focused on democracy and freedom and justice for all of our people.
07:04Thank you. Thank you, Greg.
07:34Thank you, Greg.
08:04How do you see the possibility of Congress to bring that tariff down because it seems like you have a president right now who are mostly believed by secrets and I mean then you must be in a difficult situation where you are right now?
08:22Congress has been given the power pursuant to the Constitution and under law to decide the appropriateness of when tariffs should be utilized.
08:35It's fair to say that all of us within the Democratic Party have been very clear at home in America and as we've communicated with people abroad.
08:48that the manner in which the current tariff regime has been imposed, including on allies, is not in the best interests of the people we represent in America
09:05America and will undermine core relationships that we have had with people across the world, including here in Denmark.
09:13It's going to fall on Congress to reassert our constitutional responsibility.
09:19If we find ourselves continuing to go down this road with an executive that is acting alone and in our view, respectfully, not in the best interest of the American people,
09:37certainly our allies, certainly our allies in North America or our allies here in Europe.
09:43Okay.
09:44The second and last question for me is that there is a big issue.
09:47You mentioned yourself about Greenland, the possibility of the U.S.
09:52the President says stealing Greenland from Denmark or for the Greenland people.
09:59How do you look at this big, big crisis between Denmark and the United States?
10:05Because I guess that most people don't like the actions that they have seen from the President right now.
10:11The future of Greenland should be decided by the people of Greenland in partnership with the people of Denmark.
10:19It's not clear to any of us that any president has the ability to unilaterally make a decision to take any independent
10:49nation or part of an independent nation by force.
10:54And by the way, that's not the American way.
10:58And so the future of Greenland should be decided by the people of Greenland.
11:05It also is important for us on both sides of the Atlantic in terms of the United States and Denmark, and this was a topic of discussion today, that there has been an agreement between the United States and Denmark since 1951.
11:27That has provided full and complete access to the United States to have a military presence to defend America's national security, as well as the security of our allies in the Arctic region.
11:43That agreement is still valid.
11:47It's alive.
11:48And the leaders here in Denmark have made clear that it remains available to be utilized.
11:58It's not my expectation that he will unilaterally and aggressively move on Greenland.
12:16And I think it's important to separate his rhetoric from his actions.
12:24Thanks.
12:25We'll go back to the side, and then we'll alternate.
12:27Yeah, staying on Greenland, Denmark has announced new military investments in Greenland, and obviously the United States has a strategic interest there.
12:39Now, under the 1951 agreement, do you think it would present-day make sense to increase U.S. military presence there?
12:52Is that something you've discussed with the dangerous issues?
12:57There was no specific discussion of that other than, you know, a full and complete understanding of what the 1951 agreement permits.
13:06Any decision about what's in the best interest of our collective security should be made by military and defense professionals in the United States, of course, in partnership with our allies.
13:20But it is important to note there are increasing challenges in the Arctic region, challenges that are presented by China and its aspirations, as well as, of course, by Russia.
13:36And increased military presence and cooperation is a subject that, on the merits, should be discussed for the good of everyone.
13:48One more.
13:49Okay, I'm sorry.
13:50Yeah, just one more question.
13:52So, the rhetoric's used by the U.S. administration and threats against Denmark and people of Greenland.
14:05Do you see that literally, or do you think people in Denmark and Greenland should rather see it as a bargaining tool to achieve something else, for example, greater investment?
14:26We're here in Europe, and we're here in Europe, and we are very clear, and we'll continue to be clear with the American people and those that we're privileged to represent, that the threat that emanates from Europe is Vladimir Putin and Russian aggression.
14:46That's what we should be concerned about.
14:47That's what we should be concerned about, and we should all continue to be collectively investing, as America has done, in a bipartisan way, coming out of the Congress with leadership from President Joe Biden, in stopping Russian aggression in Ukraine.
15:09That's the challenge that we should be focused on addressing.
15:14Mr. Jeffries, to what extent can you guarantee, as a congressional leader, that Donald Trump, the administration of Donald Trump, will not take over Greenland by force?
15:27To what extent can you guarantee that?
15:29It's not something that, it's fair to say, any of us support.
15:32I don't believe that there is real bipartisan support in the Congress to aggressively move on Greenland.
15:41You'll have to ask our Republican colleagues, but I haven't seen serious Republican members of Congress weigh in, in support of the notion that we should somehow invade Greenland.
15:58You also met with the Prime Minister today, I was told. Can you say a little bit about what you talked to her about? What did you say to her about the relationship between the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark?
16:10It was a very positive meeting with the Prime Minister, who we have great respect for, her leadership, her intellect, and her strength.
16:20It was a values-based discussion.
16:22There was not a lot of time that was spent on Greenland.
16:27We spent the majority of time talking about our shared interest in economic prosperity, our shared interest in stopping Russian aggression in Ukraine, and our shared interest in lifting up the values of democracy and freedom and truth, and pushing back against those who have different values or aspirations, including but not limited to China.
16:54I'm sorry.
16:57I'm sorry.
16:58I'm sorry.
16:59I was going to go ahead.
17:01Yeah, okay.
17:02My name is Alex.
17:03I'm from Putin.
17:04Thank you so much for taking questions.
17:07How, at record, there seems to be many polls that suggest that Democratic voters are very frustrated with their Democratic politicians.
17:15How do you see that the Democrats have an issue with their rank?
17:19Yeah.
17:20We're dealing with a very...
17:22You're from America?
17:23Yeah.
17:24We're dealing with constituents who are understandably concerned throughout America at the unprecedented events that we've seen unfold, given the change in the executive branch over the last 95 days.
17:48And we are in what we believe is a more is more environment, which is all of us within American democracy, in the Congress and in the courts in particular, are going to have to stand up in defense of American values and our way of life.
18:07And we'll continue to do that as we have done since January 20th of this year.
18:14Could I contribute to that?
18:15Yeah.
18:16If I could just add on to that.
18:19I've seen a shift in my own district.
18:21I'm Madeline Dean.
18:22I represent suburban Philadelphia.
18:24I had a town hall last week, Thursday of last week, standing room only, full capacity.
18:31In all humility, that doesn't happen for me, usually.
18:35I had more than 600 people attend.
18:38I had two telephone town halls, 9,000 on one, 4,500 on another.
18:43And there's been a shift.
18:44This is what I wanted to report to you.
18:45The old chestnut is, and it's still haunting us.
18:48Democrats are bad at messaging and Democrats have a problem with our brand.
18:52The shift in my district is entirely away from that narrative.
18:57It is, oh my goodness, the chaos, the confusion, the lack of certainty and clarity for businesses, for families, for federal workers, for veterans.
19:06The shift is to that.
19:08And it is pointed directly at the administration, even some who voted for this president, and who want him to succeed like we all do.
19:16But it is less about the failed democratic brand, and it is much more about the existential threat that this administration is coming up with.
19:24The harm to relationships like ours with Denmark.
19:28That's why I'm so proud to be on this trip.
19:30That's why Leader Jeffries put it together to reassure the people of Denmark, we are your friend and ally before this administration returned to power and after this administration leaves.
19:41Hold on.
19:42I think we have.
19:43Thank you, sir.
19:44I have a question on the war in Ukraine.
19:47And Trump said in a new interview that Crimea will stay Russian.
19:51Why do you stand on that?
19:53And also, how do you see that peace can come to Ukraine?
19:57I'm going to yield to Greg Meeks as well on this, but we believe that this is a Churchill or Chamberlain moment.
20:08You cannot appease an aggressor like Vladimir Putin, as the world found out in the 1930s.
20:20So it's a Churchill or Chamberlain moment, and you have to confront the aggressor and stand on the side of democracy, freedom, truth, the rules-based society that we've all built together with great leadership from America through NATO and great partnership with allies like Denmark.
20:48And so the stakes are very high in terms of the outcome of the war in Ukraine, and I don't believe that we should be dictating terms to the people of Ukraine that would result in a territorial victory and a values victory for Vladimir Putin and Russia.
21:15Let me just say real quickly.
21:19I'm the former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
21:24And we led a delegation, the first delegation, into Ukraine and Poland after the Russian invasion.
21:33The last delegation to go in before the Russian invasion.
21:38And to this picture of the greatness and the determination of the Ukrainian people.
21:46When we were there each time, they under great duress stated that under no circumstances would they allow Vladimir Putin to take them over.
22:01They said to us, just give us what we need.
22:05We will fight.
22:06You won't have to send anybody over here to fight for us.
22:10Give us what we need.
22:13Russia was this big military, et cetera.
22:16We're now close to year three.
22:19As long as we give them what they need.
22:22And I, again, thank the people of Denmark.
22:25When they needed F-16s, we worked together to make sure they got F-16s.
22:31When you look at what Denmark has done with its budget, its commitment to Ukraine.
22:37And when you look at what the European countries have done with Ukraine.
22:44And what the United States has.
22:47And when you talk to the Congress.
22:49I believe the United States will ultimately stand up and make sure that it's the Ukrainian people.
22:58And it's President Zelensky that will determine the terms of a peace agreement.
23:04Not Vladimir Putin.
23:08Last question.
23:10Yes, please.
23:11Mr. Debris.
23:12I have understood from your talks today that more than 70 decrees from the president right now is tried at court.
23:21How do you look at this way in order to make some of these decrees be turned back by the courts?
23:28Or do you think that's a good way to use the court system like that in a democracy?
23:33Yeah, in America, in an American democracy, we don't have a parliamentary system.
23:37We have a constitutional democracy with separate and co-equal branches of government.
23:42We're here today as leaders in the Congress who are part of a co-equal branch of government.
23:47The article one legislative branch.
23:50Congress has authority in the area of tariffs.
23:55Congress has authority in the area of war and peace.
23:58Congress, of course, also has explicit authority in the area of taxation and revenues as it relates to spending.
24:10And so that's our system.
24:13And I think you'll see Congress continue to assert itself as a co-equal branch of government.
24:18It's important to do not based on partisan values, based on the integrity of Congress as an institution to be the voice of the American people and to work with our allies across the world, including Denmark.
24:34The courts also article three separate and co-equal branch of government and the lawsuits speak for themselves.
24:43I think we're approaching at this point more than 200 lawsuits that have been filed challenging executive orders and administrative actions undertaken by the current administration.
24:55And in at least 85 different instances, courts have halted those executive orders and administrative actions because at the end of the day, America is a nation that is based on the rule of law.
25:13law.