Jeffries And Kushner Reportedly Met In Private To Discuss Common Ground

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Jared Kushner recently met in private to discuss areas of common ground, The New York Times reported on Sunday, despite Democrats and the Trump administration continuing to publicly savage each other ahead of the midterm elections.

At least three people told the outlet that the two met at a private space in New York City, where they reportedly discussed housing, immigration and cost of living as potential areas where there could be a working relationship between Democrats and the Trump administration.

A spokesperson for Jeffries' office directed HuffPost to his campaign team, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ABC News has separately confirmed the Times report.

"Throughout this Congress, Republicans have adopted a my-way-or-the-highway approach to governing that has failed the American people. To stop the madness, we have repeatedly made clear that an extremist approach will not work and will be met with forceful opposition," the moderate told HuffPost in a statement, declining to confirm the meeting's existence.

Jeffries and Kushner have worked together before, with sources telling the Times that the recent meeting was a catch-up for the figures. During Trump's first term, the two collaborated on a criminal justice bill.

Kushner holds no official position in Trump's government but has still essentially served as his father-in-law's foreign envoy, particularly in the Middle East as he helps lead failed efforts to end Trump's war in Iran and enforce the collapsing ceasefire in Gaza. He's been under renewed scrutiny for conflicts between regional diplomacy and his Gulf-linked investments.

"I don't know what that's about. I know Jared has interest in lots of other things going on," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said of the reported meeting on Fox News' "The Sunday Briefing." "He's not really directly involved in the admin, at least in the day-to-day in the White House."

The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost's request for comment on whether Trump was aware of the reported meeting, and if he is willing to have a working relationship with Jeffries and his party.