House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner, an adviser to President Trump and his son-in-law, met recently in New York City, a source familiar with the details confirmed to CBS News on August 23, 2026. The New York Times first reported the meeting, which covered a broad range of topics and potential areas of common ground including housing, immigration and cost of living.
Jeffries and Kushner held private meeting in New York, source confirms
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner, an adviser to President Trump and his son-in-law, met recently in New York City, a source familiar with the details confirmed to CBS News on August 23, 2026. The New York Times first reported the meeting, which covered a broad range of topics and potential areas of common ground including housing, immigration and cost of living.
The meeting occurred less than three months before the November midterm elections, in which Democrats are seeking to take control of the House. Jeffries is in line to potentially become House Speaker if Democrats win the majority.
Kushner holds no formal role in the White House but serves as a key adviser to Trump on overseas diplomatic negotiations. Kushner and Jeffries previously worked together on criminal justice reform legislation during Trump's first term.
While Trump met frequently with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and former House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi during his first term, he has met with Schumer and Jeffries only once so far in his current term. Trump has used social media to refer to Jeffries as 'low IQ' and a 'thug,' and earlier this year Jeffries called Trump 'the dumbest president ever.' In an interview this month with Punchbowl News, however, Trump said he could work with Jeffries and described him as a 'nice guy,' adding: 'People are harsh on me. I'm harsh on them. It's part of the world. I'd probably get along with him very well.'
- The source does not state the exact date on which the meeting took place.
- The White House and a Kushner spokesperson did not immediately respond to CBS News' requests for comment; neither's position on the meeting is established.
- The source does not state whether any specific agreements or outcomes resulted from the meeting.
- The source does not establish who initiated the meeting or how it was arranged.
- The source does not detail the full range of topics discussed beyond the three areas named.