Jeffries Defends Meeting With Trump Envoy Jared Kushner

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended a private meeting with Jared Kushner, saying he agreed to sit down with President Trump's son-in-law to discuss "the affordability crisis" in the United States, including housing, immigration and the high cost of living.

The meeting, first reported by the New York Times on Sunday, drew swift criticism from Democrats and some Republicans. Jeffries said the meeting was arranged at Kushner's request.

In a post on X, Jeffries pushed back on suggestions he was going soft on the Trump administration. "No one from the Trump cartel is getting a pass," he wrote. "I shouldn't have to say it, but I am. No one is going to get a pass. We're going to follow the facts, apply the law and be guided by the Constitution beginning on day one. And hold the crooks accountable." He appeared to be referring to actions Democrats plan to take if they retake control of Congress in November's midterm elections.

Kushner serves as an envoy for the Trump administration on conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran. Tommy Vietor, a former Obama aide and co-host of Pod Save America, criticized Kushner, saying he has "no actual government job" and "just uses his family connections to get money from Gulf autocrats and fund corrupt deals."

Former Clinton strategist James Carville said Jeffries had no business meeting with Kushner, suggesting he should instead "drag his ass" before a congressional committee over his "backdoor-dealing." Carville said the Trump administration and its allies "have no idea what they're doing" and are "making every backdoor bullshit deal they can," adding, "We don't meet with them. Don't meet with them."

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had opposed a primary challenge to Jeffries, said he continues to support Jeffries' bid to become House speaker if Democrats retake the chamber.

House Speaker Mike Johnson was more circumspect. "I don't know what that's about," he told Fox News' Peter Doocy, adding that Kushner is "not really directly involved in the admin, at least in the day-to-day in the White House."

Jeffries earlier said he was seeking "to stop the madness," and that Democrats "have repeatedly made clear that an extremist approach will not work and will be met with forceful opposition."