Backlash After Hakeem Jeffries Holds Private Meeting With Jared Kushner Ahead of Midterms

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speak at a press conference at the U.S.

Capitol on June 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. —Kevin Dietsch––Getty Images House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met privately with President Donald Trump ’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner in recent weeks, prompting criticism from some Democrats ahead of approaching midterm elections, according to reports.

Although Kushner, who served as a senior West Wing adviser during Trump’s first term, does not have a formal role in the current Administration, he has remained involved in Trump’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and Russia .

During the meeting, the pair were said to have discussed housing, immigration, and the high cost of living as potential areas of common ground.

The report comes less than three months before the November midterms, when Democrats are favored to retake control of the House from Republicans, who currently hold both chambers of Congress.

A Democratic victory would put Jeffries in line to become speaker and give the party greater oversight powers to investigate the Trump Administration.

The meeting—an unusual instance of a top Democrat and a Trump confidant coming together to discuss potential areas of agreement—has drawn scrutiny from some within Democratic circles.

TIME has reached out to the White House and the offices of Kushner and Jeffries for comment.

It was first reported Sunday by the New York Times and has since been confirmed by multiple outlets.

Asked whether he supported the meeting during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Democratic Sen.

Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said : “I’m in favor of people meeting with whoever they want to discuss ideas.

But it’s one thing to have a meeting.

It’s another thing to see something real come out of that.” Tommy Vietor, a former aide to President Barack Obama and now a co-host of the podcast Pod Save America , was far less diplomatic.

“Jared Kushner has no actual government job, he just uses his family connections to get money from Gulf autocrats and fund corrupt deals.