House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met privately with Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law, igniting a firestorm among Democrats.
Democrats Clash Over Kushner Meeting
Former Obama aide Tommy Vietor condemned the meeting, saying Kushner should face congressional scrutiny, not partnership.
“Jared Kushner has no actual government job. He just uses his family connections to get money from Gulf autocrats and fund corrupt deals,” Vietor said. “The only way Jeffries should work with him is with demands for documents and subpoenas.”
Democratic pundit Jennifer Welch added, “I don’t want to work with fascists. I don’t want to collaborate with fascists.”
Mehdi Hasan, editor‑in‑chief of Zeteo, called the encounter “pathetic” and criticized Jeffries for engaging with the Trump ally.
The private meeting took place in a New York City location, described by The New York Times as a “catch‑up” that touched housing, immigration, the cost of living and a possible sit‑down between Jeffries and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Jeffries and Kushner have a history of working together on criminal justice reform during Trump’s first term; Kushner, though without an official role, advises Trump and tells allies that Jeffries offers the best path to bipartisan cooperation, while Wiles can facilitate those talks in the West Wing.
The episode comes as Jeffries faces pressure from progressive primary challengers backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, who have targeted both him and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The DSA website declares, “Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries have failed to meet the moment and mount a credible defense against Trump,” adding that the party must adopt socialism to beat fascism.
Jeffries retorted, “I don’t support the DSA agenda, as has been articulated by the DSA itself,” and rejects calls to abolish ICE, defund police or implement Medicare for All.
Cygnal pollster Brent Buchanan argues Republicans will use the meeting to blunt Democratic claims that Trump is an existential threat, saying the encounter shows the emergency driving voter turnout is overstated.
Republican strategists welcome the DSA’s victories, noting that socialist nominees will be easier to defeat in November; a Trump adviser praised Nixon’s primary win as “a win for Republicans.”
President Trump called El‑Sayed’s Michigan victory “great news” for the GOP, reinforcing the narrative that Democratic internal fractures benefit Republicans.
