Jeffries Vows No Cooperation With Miller, Backs Push to Impeach Hegseth

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Sunday he will not work with new White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and that he is a “hard yes” on a resolution to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Jeffries, the Democratic representative for New York’s 8th District and the favorite to become the next Speaker of the House, made the remarks in an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl on “This Week.”

Asked about his previous criticism of Miller, whom he had called a “dangerous xenophobe” and “reckless extremist” with “blood on his hands,” Jeffries did not back down.

“It’s an awful choice. Stephen Miller is the architect of Donald Trump’s violent mass deportation machine. And has unleashed billions of taxpayer dollars to brutalize and kill American citizens, like Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good. And at the same period of time, to violently target law-abiding, immigrant families and communities all across the country,” Jeffries said.

He added that cooperation with Miller is off the table going forward.

“So, you know, it was an irresponsible decision in my view. There’s not going to be an opportunity, certainly, to work with Stephen Miller and what he represents. And we’re committed to forcefully pushing back against the extremism that they may try to continue to unleash on the American people. And we’ve got a firewall in the House and a firewall in the Senate thanks to the American people,” Jeffries said.

Hegseth impeachment push

Karl also asked Jeffries about plans by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie to introduce a resolution to impeach Hegseth as early as Monday. Jeffries said he would support it.

“I’m a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution. The so-called secretary of defense has abused his power undermined our national security and engineered this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran, which has skyrocketed prices on the American people and made the country less safe. Pete Hegseth has got to go,” Jeffries said.

Pressed on whether other Democrats would join him, Jeffries said the caucus would discuss the matter when Congress reconvenes.

“We’ll certainly have that conversation on Tuesday morning when we reconvene for the first time in Washington, D.C. But I believe there will be incredibly strong support for that resolution,” Jeffries said.

The comments come in the wake of the 2026 midterm elections, which produced gains for Democrats. Jeffries is positioned to become Speaker of the House if his party secures a majority.