Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats will not work with Stephen Miller

Representative Hakeem Jeffries vowed on Sunday that House Democrats will refuse to work with President Donald Trump's new chief of staff Stephen Miller. The New York Post reported that Jeffries, speaking on ABC's "This Week," described Miller as the architect of a violent mass deportation machine. The announcement marks the first major conflict following the midterm elections. [1]

The New York Post and The Hill both report that Jeffries criticized Miller's past policy record, with The Hill reporting that Jeffries called him a dangerous xenophobe and urged Trump to fire him. Jeffries claimed that Miller was responsible for policies that resulted in the deaths of Americans, according to the New York Post. [1][8]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, President Trump named Miller to replace outgoing White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles after Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. The Daily Mail reported that Miller's wife, Katie Miller, suggested on social media that she lobbied behind the scenes to help secure her husband's promotion to the role. [3][16][17]

Jeffries has served as the leader of the House Democratic Caucus and House minority leader since 2023, while Miller previously served as White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor. [11][12]