Jeffries Says Democrats Aim to Defeat MAGA Extremists and Break Their Spirit

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told a progressive conference on Tuesday that Democrats must defeat MAGA extremists at the ballot box and then break their spirit.

Jeffries, who would become House speaker if Democrats win the majority in the midterm election, said the choice is clear. "Part of how we as House Democrats view this moment, either MAGA extremists are going to break the country, or we're going to break them, and our goal is to break them," he said.

He assured the audience that Democrats will regain control of the House in November. "We will defeat them," Jeffries said. "We have to beat them electorally, and then we have to break their spirit, because of the extremism that's being unleashed on the American people, that's completely and totally unacceptable."

Republicans reacted quickly on social media. Edgar Barrios, a spokesman for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., wrote that Jeffries wants to "break the spirit" of 77 million Americans. Illinois Republican congressional candidate Christian Maxwell called the rhetoric "disgustingly violent."

Minnesota state Rep. Walter Hudson, a Republican, said the comments show Democrats "emanate a spirit of malevolence" and amount to "a declaration of war." Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters said Democrats are focused on revenge rather than serving the public.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, asked what it means to break the spirit of Trump voters. Radio host Mark Levin called Jeffries an "absolute thug" and "totalitarian." Podcast host Libby Emmons wrote that Jeffries would never break her spirit.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jeffries for comment.