Hakeem Jeffries Refuses to Work With Stephen Miller
Hakeem Jeffries rejected cooperation with White House chief of staff Stephen Miller while facing internal party pressure over his pro-Israel stances ahead of his Speaker bid.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated on Monday that he has no interest in working with Stephen Miller, the recently appointed White House chief of staff under President Donald Trump. Jeffries described Miller as a "stone-cold racist" and a "reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands," asserting that "the era of MAGA extremism is coming to a crashing end."
These clashes with the White House coincide with Jeffries' expected ascent to become the first Black Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in January following a Democratic majority victory. However, Jeffries faces significant internal pressure from the Democratic Socialists of America and the party's progressive wing over his ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and his opposition to cutting military aid to Israel.
While Jeffries has suggested that direct military subsidies to Israel could end after the current Memorandum of Understanding expires in 2028, stating that "a change in direction is needed," some incoming members have conditioned their support on policies like the Block the Bombs Act. Over the weekend, protesters in New York City marched against the leadership bids of Jeffries and Senate leader Chuck Schumer, highlighting the divide between the party's establishment and its progressive flank.
