Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner, a son-in-law and former advisor to President Donald Trump, met privately in recent weeks to discuss potential areas of common ground, according to two people familiar with the meeting.
Although Kushner does not hold an official position in the current administration, he has remained involved in policy, particularly on foreign affairs, and continues to serve as an outside advisor to the president. The meeting's timing precedes the midterm elections, with less than 75 days remaining until Election Day.
Jeffries and Kushner previously collaborated on criminal justice and prison reform legislation during Trump's first term in office. While Trump has publicly criticized Jeffries in the past, his tone has shifted recently, with Trump calling Jeffries a "nice guy" in a July interview.
Jeffries has stated that Democrats are committed to delivering "bold change" and addressing the "affordability crisis," emphasizing the need for "transformational policy change" rather than an "extremist approach."