'This Guy Needs to Go!' Progressives Erupt at Hakeem Jeffries for Reportedly Taking a Secret Meeting With Jared Kushner

Notable progressive observers are furious over news of a secret meeting between House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner — which was reported by The New York Times on Sunday.

According to Times correspondents Maggie Haberman and Annie Karni, the two met privately in recent weeks at a New York location offered by a person described as a "mutual friend" of Kushner and Jeffries. The two "discussed potential areas of common ground," according to the report — which noted that the meeting's "timing underscored that those around Mr. Trump were well aware of the likelihood of a Democratic-led House, and trying to foster as much of a working relationship as possible before any change."

"The private get-together was described by one of the people as a catch-up for Mr. Kushner and Mr. Jeffries," Haberman and Karni wrote. "The two men have stayed in touch since they worked together on a criminal justice bill midway through Mr. Trump's first term. During the recent meeting, the pair discussed housing, immigration and the high cost of living as potential areas of common ground. Mr. Kushner suggested that Mr. Jeffries should meet with the White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, two people with knowledge of the meeting said."

Whatever the rationale for the meeting, progressives and other Trump critics were incensed that Jeffries saw fit to sit down with the president's son-in-law. Here's a sampling of the outrage that bubbled up on social media Sunday morning:

"Jared Kushner has no actual government job he just uses his family connections to get money from gulf autocrats and fund corrupt deals. The only way @RepJeffries should work with him is with demands for documents and subpoenas." — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08), August 23, 2026

"WTF. Did you not get the memo, Jeffries? We want fighters, not conciliators. There is no working with fascists. Fascists are to be fought." — Jeff Jarvis (@jeffjarvis), August 23, 2026

"A secret meeting was just held between Jeffries and Kushner. Jeffries and Schumer have to go if Democrats are even going to gain any ground. They need fighters not secret meetings.." — David W Pippy (@DWPippy), August 23, 2026

"This guy needs to go. End of story." — Jim Stewartson, Decelerationist (@jimstewartson), August 23, 2026