Jared Kushner, an outside adviser to President Donald Trump, held a private meeting with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries in New York, according to reporting from later this week. The discussion covered multiple policy areas including housing, immigration, and cost-of-living concerns, according to people familiar with the encounter. Kushner subsequently suggested that Jeffries, who would become House speaker if Democrats win the majority in the midterm elections, meet with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles as a follow-up to their conversation.
Jeffries responded to the meeting with a statement emphasizing that the Republican administration must abandon what he characterized as an inflexible negotiating posture. The New York congressman argued that such an approach had not served the American public and suggested Democrats would oppose any “extremist” policies. His comments indicated openness to potential cooperation while maintaining Democratic opposition to current administration priorities.
The meeting reflects concerns within Republican circles about maintaining House control in the midterm elections. House Speaker Mike Johnson responded defensively when questioned about the encounter, describing Kushner’s role in the White House as limited and dismissive of the meeting’s significance. Johnson expressed confidence that House Republicans would retain their majority despite the slim current advantage.
Jeffries and Kushner have maintained a working relationship dating to the first Trump administration, when they collaborated on criminal justice legislation aimed at reducing sentencing for certain drug offenses. However, Trump and Jeffries have had a contentious relationship, with the president and Democratic leader exchanging public attacks.
Democrats view the midterm elections as an opportunity to regain House control, which would enable them to conduct oversight investigations and utilize congressional powers to check executive authority. Republican strategists, meanwhile, face concerns about voter enthusiasm and shifting political dynamics in key battleground districts that will likely determine control of the chamber.
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