Hakeem Jeffries defends meeting with Jared Kushner

Hakeem Jeffries defends meeting with Jared Kushner: ‘Reality of governance’

Published August 31, 2026 5:28pm ET Updated August 31, 2026 5:28pm ET

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) defended his private meeting with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and top outside adviser of President Donald Trump.

Jeffries, who received significant progressive backlash over the meeting, told reporters Monday that Kushner had requested the meeting and that the pair’s discussion largely focused on the affordability crisis and opportunities to “make life more affordable for the American people.”