House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Monday pushed back against criticism over his recent private meeting with Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law and former senior adviser. In a video posted to X, Jeffries declared that "no one from the Trump Cartel is getting a pass," seeking to quell concerns that the encounter signaled a softening of Democratic opposition.
The meeting, first reported by The New York Times on Sunday, took place ahead of November's midterms. According to Jeffries, Kushner initiated the outreach, and the two discussed areas of potential common ground, including housing affordability, immigration, and the high cost of living. Jeffries emphasized that the conversation was part of an effort to address kitchen-table issues, but he was quick to underscore that House Democrats have consistently challenged the administration on tariffs, healthcare, and food assistance.
"I shouldn't have to say it, but I am. No one is going to get a pass," Jeffries said in the video. "We're gonna follow the facts, apply the law, and be guided by the Constitution beginning on day one. And hold the crooks accountable."
The backlash was swift, particularly from progressive circles. Tommy Vietor, co-host of the podcast "Pod Save America" and a former Obama administration official, took to X on Sunday to criticize Kushner. "Jared Kushner has no actual government job he just uses his family connections to get money from gulf autocrats and fund corrupt deals," Vietor wrote.
Kushner, who served as a Middle East envoy during Trump's first term, has remained active in foreign affairs, working on conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran. His business dealings and family ties have drawn scrutiny, but some Republicans downplayed the significance of the meeting. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told Fox News's Peter Doocy on "The Sunday Briefing" that he didn't know what the meeting was about, adding that Kushner "is not really directly involved in the admin, at least in the day-to-day in the White House."
Jeffries also received support from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, who at a Monday press conference backed Jeffries's bid to become House Majority Leader if Democrats retake the chamber. "I continue to support Congressman Jeffries and his bid to become the leader," Mamdani said.
In his video, Jeffries touted Democratic efforts to combat corruption, noting that "Pam Bondi is gone. Kristi Noem is gone, and we're just getting started." He pivoted to the economy, saying, "People are drowning in this failed economy and are demanding action. We have a responsibility to deal with the fact that life is too expensive."
The episode highlights the tightrope Democratic leaders walk as they balance outreach on pocketbook issues with the party's base, which remains deeply suspicious of Trump and his associates. Jeffries's insistence on accountability may not fully assuage critics, but it signals that he intends to keep the administration in his crosshairs.
For more on how the meeting is playing out among Democrats, see Mamdani's endorsement of Jeffries. And for a look at how Kushner's diplomatic role has evolved, check this analysis of his recent remarks.
