Jeffries Weighs Trump Strategy After Democrats Near 260 House Seats

3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Nov 9

Hakeem Jeffries is deciding whether a new House Democratic majority will negotiate with Donald Trump or confront him, after Democrats' midterm gains put him on track to become speaker.
Two paths are emerging: centrists and red-district freshmen want affordability deals they can sell before 2028, while progressives want to pass Democratic bills, force vetoes and use subpoena power to investigate Trump.
Trump has sent mixed signals, saying he wants to work with Democrats while elevating Stephen Miller to chief of staff; Jeffries answered by calling Miller a "dangerous xenophobe" and said he had not spoken with Trump as of Sunday.
The choice could be tested quickly by a Dec. 11 fight over blocking Iran war funding, with debt-ceiling and spending clashes likely to define whether cooperation or open warfare governs the next 2 years.