House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met privately in recent weeks with Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and informal adviser, to discuss possible areas of cooperation between Democrats and the Trump administration as the November midterm elections approach.
The meeting took place in Manhattan and was arranged by a mutual friend, according to multiple sources. Jeffries and Kushner discussed housing, immigration, and the high cost of living as potential areas where the two parties might find common ground, according to reporting from the New York Times and NBC News.
The private meeting marks an unusual instance of a top Democrat and a close Trump confidant coming together amid intense partisan tensions. Jeffries has emerged as one of the president’s most prominent critics, while Kushner remains a close family member and influential adviser focused on foreign policy and special envoy duties for the Middle East and Russia-Ukraine negotiations.
Despite their different policy perspectives, Jeffries and Kushner have a history of collaboration. In 2018, they joined forces to champion the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill signed into law that year. Kushner championed the legislation from the White House, while Jeffries signed on as a co-sponsor, lending the bill Democratic support during Trump’s first term.
The timing of the meeting is significant as both parties enter the final stretch of the campaign season. Democrats are heavily favored to retake control of the House in November’s midterm elections, with polling and election forecasts showing the party needs to flip only three seats to gain the majority. If Democrats succeed, Jeffries is the frontrunner to become the next Speaker of the House.
Jeffries has predicted Democratic victory in the midterms and has vowed that his party will conduct aggressive oversight of the Trump administration on issues ranging from Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics to the president’s family business dealings. The meeting between the two men comes as both parties have been engaged in increasingly fierce campaign attacks ahead of the midterms, even as Kushner and Jeffries explored potential areas of bipartisan cooperation.
Kushner currently serves as special envoy for peace missions and does not hold a formal government position, though he remains influential in Trump’s orbit while also running a private investment firm. The White House and Jeffries’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the meeting.
Sources
- NBC News — Confirmed the private meeting between Jeffries and Kushner in Manhattan; reported discussion of housing, immigration, and cost of living; noted prior collaboration on First Step Act and Jeffries’ position as frontrunner for Speaker if Democrats win House majority.
- New York Times — First reported the meeting occurred “in recent weeks”; provided details about topics discussed and the mutual friend who arranged the meeting space.
- CNBC — Confirmed the meeting and Kushner’s role as Trump’s son-in-law and outside adviser.
- AP News — Reported on the meeting with House control at stake in November midterms and Kushner’s role as familiar Trump emissary to Democrats.
