House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on Friday criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, urging his immediate removal from the administration.
Jeffries described Miller as a ‘dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist’ in a social media post, stating that his presence in government should be ended. The remarks follow Trump’s announcement of Miller’s promotion to the top White House role, a decision that has drawn sharp political reactions.
In a separate statement, Jeffries also called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, labeling him ‘the most unqualified secretary of defense in American history.’ While Jeffries did not explicitly endorse impeachment proceedings against Hegseth, he indicated that congressional investigations into the Trump administration would proceed.
Jeffries, who is set to become the next Speaker of the House, reiterated that Democrats would pursue a war powers resolution to end the conflict in Iran, though he acknowledged the measure would face a veto threat from Trump. Overriding a veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers, which Democrats currently lack.
The Democratic leader also addressed calls for new leadership within his party, stating that the decision would be made by the House Democratic Caucus. He defended the party’s record, asserting that Democrats had consistently opposed Trump’s policies.
The White House has not publicly responded to Jeffries’ remarks. Miller’s appointment marks a significant shift in the administration’s personnel, while Hegseth’s tenure has faced ongoing scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.