Overview
- The New York Times first reported Sunday that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner met privately in New York to discuss possible areas of bipartisan cooperation.
- Sources said the discussion covered housing, immigration and the high cost of living, and that Kushner suggested Jeffries meet White House chief of staff Susie Wiles; aides for both men declined to comment publicly.
- Jeffries issued a statement stressing Democrats’ focus on affordability and saying transformational policy change is required, while not publicly confirming the meeting itself.
- The report relied on unnamed sources and a meeting space provided by a mutual friend, prompting progressive commentators to criticize Jeffries for private engagement with a senior Trump adviser.
- The timing, with midterms weeks away and Jeffries the likely House speaker if Democrats win control, frames the talks as early contingency planning about cooperation, funding and oversight should the majority shift.