First posted on Instagram
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries was shouted down by protesters during his appearance at the Democrats' "What's Next" conference in Denver on Friday, November 13, 2026, as the crowd yelled "You're a f***ing liar!" and "You're a f***ing traitor!" while he tried to speak.
The interruption came as Jeffries took part in a post-midterm discussion on the party's future, alongside Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Representative Ro Khanna and Senators Andy Kim, Chris Van Hollen and Ruben Gallego. A protester stood up and challenged Jeffries over climate policy, corporate donations and his relationship with special interests, asking why Democrats should be trusted. Jeffries answered back, "Remember, I grew up in Brooklyn," and then continued his remarks on healthcare, permitting reform and the party's priorities.
The conference, hosted by Majority Democrats at the Mission Ballroom in Denver, is a two-day gathering of the party's leading figures to debate the road ahead after the Democrats' sweeping victories in the November 3 midterm elections. Jeffries headlined the second day of the event with Van Hollen and Khanna.
The heckling comes as Jeffries faces growing pressure from the party's progressive wing ahead of his expected election as the first Black Speaker of the House when the new Congress convenes in January. A petition urging Democrats to reject Jeffries as Speaker has passed one million signatures, with critics pointing to his support for Israel and donations from pro-Israel and corporate interests. Days earlier, protesters rallied outside his Brooklyn office, and members of the Democratic Socialists of America chanted "You're next!" at him at a separate event.
Jeffries, who currently leads the House Democrats, is expected to become Speaker after the party retook the House in the midterms. His supporters point to the scale of the victory and to backing from leading progressive figures in the House and in New York.