At the National Action Network convention, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries celebrated the recent departures of Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi from the Trump administration and predicted Pete Hegseth could be the next to go. He defended diversity, equity and inclusion as American values and criticized the administration’s personnel choices, questioning Hegseth’s qualifications. Jeffries urged continued political organizing and noted video of his remarks is available on X and C-SPAN.
Jeffries Celebrates Noem and Bondi Departures, Predicts Pete Hegseth Could Be Next
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) took a pointed victory lap Thursday after two Trump administration officials — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former Attorney General Pam Bondi — departed the Cabinet, and he suggested another controversial figure may be next to go.
Jeffries was speaking in New York City at the National Action Network convention, where he was introduced by civil-rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton. He reflected on career arcs, including Sharpton’s own shift in style while retaining his mission, and described his own journey to become House Democratic Leader.
“For us in this challenging moment, it’s all about the power of imagination,” Jeffries said, urging Democrats to envision how to move the country forward amid what he called rising extremism.
Turning to the recent shake-up in the administration, Jeffries celebrated the exits of Noem — pushed out in March — and Bondi, who left earlier this month. He then named Republican veteran and former Fox host Pete Hegseth as a likely next casualty.
“Watch, watch this,” Jeffries said. “Kristi Noem is gone. Pam Bondi is gone. And Pete Hegseth is next up.”
Jeffries used the moment to defend diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, calling them core American values rather than foreign ideas. He argued that attacks on DEI are politically motivated and likened the critics’ rhetoric to efforts that “elevate mediocrity.”
“When you attack diversity, equity and inclusion, you attack the United States of America. We have the high ground on this issue,” he said.
Jeffries also sharply criticized Hegseth’s qualifications, noting his transition from media to a prominent administration role and mocking his fitness for leadership. He said those appointments help explain policy failures, including in the Middle East, and urged sustained political pressure and organizing.
Video clips of Jeffries’ remarks have circulated on X, and the full speech is available via C-SPAN.
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