New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) on Monday publicly reaffirmed his support for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) amid growing criticism from progressive Democrats over Jeffries' recent meeting with Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law.
When asked by a reporter whether he would support Jeffries as Speaker if Democrats retake the House in the upcoming midterms, Mamdani responded, "I continue to support Congressman Jeffries and his bid to become the leader."
Jeffries, who represents parts of Brooklyn, had previously remained neutral in New York City's mayoral race, but ultimately endorsed Mamdani just hours before early voting began last year, a move that helped solidify Mamdani's victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The New York Times reported Sunday that Kushner and Jeffries met in New York City to discuss potential areas of bipartisan cooperation, including housing, immigration, and the cost of living. Kushner, who has served as a White House envoy on foreign conflicts, also suggested Jeffries meet with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, according to sources familiar with the meeting.
The meeting has drawn sharp rebukes from some Democrats. Tommy Vietor, a former Obama aide and co-host of Pod Save America, wrote on X that Kushner "has no actual government job" and accused him of leveraging family connections for financial gain. Vietor argued Jeffries should only engage Kushner by demanding documents and issuing subpoenas.
However, other Democratic figures have defended the outreach. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that he supports lawmakers meeting with anyone to discuss ideas, though he cautioned that "it's one thing to have a meeting, it's another thing to see something real come out of that."
Republicans also weighed in. Representative Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) praised the meeting on NewsNation's The Hill Sunday, saying Kushner and Jeffries "are trying to come up with compromises" and congratulated them for attempting bipartisan dialogue.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) dismissed the significance of the meeting, telling Fox News he doesn't "know what that's about" and noting that Kushner is not directly involved in the administration's day-to-day operations.
Jeffries has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration, calling Medicaid cuts in the GOP's healthcare overhaul "devastating," labeling the Iran conflict "Operation Epic Failure," and accusing Republicans of being "phonies" for adding to the national debt, which surpassed $40 trillion this week.
The meeting with Kushner comes as Jeffries faces pressure from progressive primary wins that have put him on notice for a potential House majority. Mamdani's endorsement, while notable, does not fully quell concerns among left-leaning Democrats who view Kushner as a controversial figure, especially given his role in Middle East policy and ongoing legal entanglements.
