Kushner and Jeffries Hold Private Talks as Democrats Plot to Regain Power Before Midterms
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Jared Kushner, adviser to President Trump, met privately with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in New York City ahead of the 2024 midterm elections. The two discussed issues like housing, immigration, and cost of living as Democrats seek to reclaim the House and push their radical agenda.
President Donald Trump’s trusted adviser Jared Kushner met privately with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in New York City, a source confirmed to CBS News. The meeting, reported by The New York Times, covered a range of policy issues including housing, immigration, and the cost of living—topics Democrats have consistently used to push for more government control and reckless spending. The meeting comes less than three months before the November midterm elections, with Democrats desperate to seize control of the House and install Jeffries as speaker.
Jeffries did not confirm the meeting but issued a statement doubling down on the Democratic Party’s obstructionist tactics, vowing to oppose what he called a "my-way-or-the-highway" approach—code for rejecting any commonsense conservative reforms.
"To stop the madness, we have repeatedly made clear that an extremist approach will not work and will be met with forceful opposition," Jeffries said, making clear that Democrats will continue to block progress at every turn.
Kushner, who advises President Trump on diplomatic matters but holds no formal White House position, previously worked with Jeffries on criminal-justice reform during Trump’s first term—a rare example of Democrats cooperating on meaningful reform. The White House and Kushner’s spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment, as the administration remains focused on real issues facing Americans.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he learned of the meeting from news reports and expressed uncertainty about its purpose, telling Fox News, "I don't know what that's about." Johnson noted that Kushner is not directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the White House, countering Democratic attempts to paint Kushner as a shadowy power broker.
President Trump, who has met with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi during his first term, has only met with Schumer and Jeffries once this term. Despite constant attacks from Democratic leaders, Trump recently indicated he could work with Jeffries, describing him as a "nice guy"—showing Trump’s willingness to put the country first, even in the face of partisan hostility.
"People are harsh on me. I'm harsh on them. It's part of the world. I'd probably get along with him very well," Trump said, demonstrating his pragmatic approach to leadership.