Behind closed doors in New York: Kushner met with the man who could complicate things for Trump

House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently met secretly in New York with Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump and considered one of his closest advisors. According to a report published in The New York Times, the two discussed areas of potential agreement and joint action between the administration and the Democratic Party.

The unusual meeting took place at a private venue made available to the two by a mutual friend. Although Jeffries and Kushner refused to officially comment on the matter, sources familiar with the details described the meeting as a broad "cross-section conversation" on a variety of issues.

The timing of the meeting is not coincidental; it illustrates that Trump's circle is preparing for the likely scenario in which Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives after the midterm elections. In such a scenario, Jeffries is the leading candidate to be appointed Speaker of the House, and it is evident that Kushner is trying to establish a working relationship with him in advance to soften future political blows.

The meeting was held in the shadow of peak tension between the President and the Democratic Party. Trump, who frequently attacks his political rivals on the campaign trail, previously called Jeffries a "bully" and even claimed at a campaign rally in May that he was a person with a "low IQ." Conversely, Jeffries does not remain in debt and consistently claims that Trump is an extremist and corrupt, while promising that the Democrats will "settle the score with the crooks" if they do indeed win a majority in Congress.

Despite the sharp public rhetoric, Kushner and Jeffries have maintained continuous contact since they collaborated on promoting criminal justice legislation during Trump's first term. The New York Times reported that during their last meeting, the two discussed issues such as the housing crisis, immigration policy, and the cost of living as topics that could form the basis for bipartisan cooperation. Kushner even suggested that Jeffries meet with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

However, the prospect for real compromises seems slim at this stage. Earlier this year, Trump refused to sign a bipartisan housing bill, claiming it served the agenda of Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren. Also on the issue of immigration, Trump walked back previous agreements and even pressured Republicans to torpedo a significant border security bill back in 2024.

In a statement released on his behalf, Jeffries did not confirm the meeting took place, but clarified that any future cooperation with the administration would require significant Republican flexibility on cost-of-living issues, which are considered his party's top priority. "Throughout the current Congress, Republicans have adopted a 'my way or the highway' approach, which has failed the American people," Jeffries stated. He added that the economic crisis is not a fiction and demanded a dramatic policy change.

Kushner, who does not currently hold an official position in the White House, is still deeply involved in the President's efforts to resolve international crises, including tensions with Iran, efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza, and ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sources in his circle note that he views Jeffries as the most serious and pragmatic figure in the Democratic leadership.

Ahead of the midterm elections, many polls point to Republican weakness, which increases the fear in the President's circle of an adversarial Congress. If the Democrats win, Jeffries will face immense pressure from the progressive wing of his party to exert aggressive power against Trump, including the possibility of promoting a third impeachment trial.

The relationship between Trump and Jeffries has known mainly public confrontations. In their only meeting in the Oval Office during the second term, which was intended to prevent a government shutdown, Trump placed "Trump 2028" hats in front of Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a move perceived as defiance of his intention to run for a third term in violation of the Constitution.

After the meeting, the President published an AI-generated meme in which Jeffries was seen wearing a sombrero, which drew an angry response from the Minority Leader, who accused the President of blatant racism and called on him to insult him next time "to his face." Shortly after that incident, the government was indeed shut down.

In an interview he gave last month, Jeffries refused to clear the fog around the possibility of another impeachment trial, but clarified that his focus would be on removing problematic elements from the administration. "We must ensure we get rid of Trump's toxic cabinet secretaries," he emphasized. "In my opinion, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth should be next on the list."