House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met privately with Jared Kushner, former senior West Wing adviser and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, in recent weeks. This meeting has drawn criticism from some Democrats as the November midterm elections approach.
The discussion between Jeffries and Kushner reportedly focused on potential areas of common ground, including housing, immigration, and the high cost of living. Kushner, while not holding a formal role in the current administration, has remained involved in Trump’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and Russia.
The meeting occurred less than three months before the midterms, where Democrats are currently favored to regain control of the House from Republicans. A Democratic victory would position Jeffries to become Speaker and grant the party increased oversight capabilities to investigate the Trump Administration.
Jeffries addressed the meeting in a statement, emphasizing that Republicans have adopted a my-way-or-the-highway approach to governing. He stated that House Democrats would deliver bold change and would continue to make it clear that the affordability crisis is not a hoax, pushing for transformational policy change.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland commented on the meeting, stating he supports individuals discussing ideas but noted that a meeting is distinct from achieving tangible results. Conversely, Tommy Vietor, a former aide to President Barack Obama, expressed a more critical view, suggesting Jeffries should only engage with Kushner through demands for documents and subpoenas, given Kushner’s lack of a government job.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he learned of the meeting on Sunday when reports began circulating. He expressed unfamiliarity with the details, noting Kushner’s interests in various endeavors outside direct administration involvement. Johnson remained confident in Republicans retaining House control.
President Trump has met with top Democratic House and Senate leaders only once since returning to office, during an unsuccessful attempt last year to prevent a government shutdown. The relationship between Trump and Jeffries has often been contentious, marked by past exchanges of insults. However, Trump’s tone toward Jeffries has recently softened, with the President describing him as a nice guy and suggesting they could work well together in an interview earlier this month.
Recent polling indicates congressional Democrats leading Republicans. An Emerson College poll released August 20 showed Democrats ahead by nearly 8 points, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll released August 17 found Democrats leading by 5 points. All 435 House seats are up for election in November.
