White House Bracing for Possible Midterm Defeat? Kushner Holds Meeting with Democratic House Leader

Kushner and Jeffries Hold Private Meeting in New York
Discussions Cover Housing, Immigration, and Cost of Living
Meeting with Wiles Also Proposed
If Democrats Retake the House, Jeffries Seen as Likely Speaker
Republicans Say "We Will Keep the Majority"... Caution Against Overinterpretation

As the possibility of the Democratic Party reclaiming the House of Representatives in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections this November increases, it has been revealed that Jared Kushner, son-in-law and key adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, privately met with House Majority Leader Hakim Jeffries, the leading Democratic candidate for the next Speaker of the House.

Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Given that this contact between one of President Trump's closest confidants and the opposition’s House leadership comes just about two months before the elections, some are interpreting it as an effort by the Trump camp to build relationships in anticipation of a potential Democratic takeover of the House.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on August 23 (local time), Kushner and Leader Jeffries met in a private location in New York City in recent weeks to discuss issues where both sides could cooperate, such as housing, immigration, and the cost of living. The venue was reportedly provided by an acquaintance of the two men.

During the meeting, Kushner reportedly suggested that Leader Jeffries also meet with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. According to the NYT, Kushner has told those around him that when bipartisan cooperation in Congress is necessary, Jeffries is the Democratic leader he can have the most serious conversations with, while Wiles is his counterpart within the White House.

Is This With an Eye Toward Democratic Control of the House?... Jeffries a Strong Candidate for Next Speaker

The timing of this meeting is particularly notable, as it occurred when a shift in Congressional power dynamics is seen as increasingly likely after the midterms. The NYT pointed out that recent polls show the Republican Party at a disadvantage for the midterm elections, and assessed that the meeting demonstrates how those close to President Trump are accepting the possibility of a Democratic-led House next year.

If the Democratic Party regains a majority in the House, Leader Jeffries is highly likely to become the next Speaker. In this scenario, the Trump administration would face not only challenges in passing bills and budgets but also intense scrutiny through the House’s oversight and investigative powers.

Hakim Jeffries, House Majority Leader of the Democratic Party.

In an NYT interview last month, Leader Jeffries maintained that "nothing is off or on the table" regarding the possibility of holding President Trump accountable. He especially emphasized the need to scrutinize members of the Trump administration and identified Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as the next likely target.

Although President Trump and Leader Jeffries have publicly engaged in heated debates, there have been subtle changes in President Trump’s stance recently. In a recent interview with Punchbowl News, President Trump called Leader Jeffries "a good person" and said, "I could probably get along with him very well."

This is not the first time Kushner and Leader Jeffries have engaged in dialogue. The two worked together during the Trump administration’s first term on bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation and have stayed in touch since then. According to the NYT, they also met once last year.

Leader Jeffries, in a separate statement that day, criticized Republicans for governing in a "my-way-or-the-highway" manner but indicated he remained open to cooperating on cost-of-living issues.

Republicans Cautious About Overinterpretation of the Private Meeting

The Republican Party warned against interpreting this meeting as a move based on the premise of losing the House majority. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Fox News that, regarding speculation about a midterm loss, "We are going to defy the course of history and retain the majority."

He described Kushner as "a smart person who prepares for different possibilities," but also drew a line, saying he is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the White House.

Speaker Johnson has recently highlighted the rise of democratic socialists within the Democratic Party, using it as a major line of attack for the midterms. In contrast, the Democratic Party is targeting the Trump administration’s declining approval ratings, the Iran war, and concerns about inflation and the cost of living in their bid to reclaim the House.

Currently, the Republican Party maintains only a slim majority in the House, meaning the outcome in just a few key districts could shift the Congressional balance of power. Should the Democratic Party win back the House, President Trump would have to govern for the first time in his second term with a House controlled by the opposition party.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.