Hakeem Jeffries, Jared Kushner Meet Privately to Discuss Cooperation

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) met privately in recent weeks with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and top outside adviser, to discuss potential areas of common ground.

The meeting aimed to lay groundwork for cooperation should Democrats retake the House, with Jeffries in line to become Speaker. The rare engagement took place in a private space in New York City, arranged by a mutual friend. The discussion covered a range of topics, including housing, immigration, and the cost of living. Neither Jeffries nor Kushner commented on the session through aides.

The meeting's timing suggests those around President Trump are aware of the likelihood of a Democratic-led House, as voter sentiment has been turning against the GOP due to the Iran war and a cost-of-living crisis. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated he learned of the meeting from news reports and warned Kushner not to hedge his bets against House Republicans.

Jeffries issued a statement condemning the Trump administration’s my-way-or-the-highway approach to governing. Progressive critics reacted negatively, with David W. Pippy stating Jeffries and Schumer have to go for Democrats to gain ground. Jeffries and Kushner previously collaborated on a criminal justice reform bill during Trump’s first term.