House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner, a key outside adviser to President Trump, met privately in recent weeks to explore potential areas of common ground, according to two individuals familiar with the discussions.

The meeting, which was not publicly announced, comes at a critical juncture for both parties, with midterm elections less than 75 days away. Republicans are reportedly facing challenges in recent polling, while Democrats express cautious optimism about their prospects for retaking the House, a scenario that could position Jeffries as the next Speaker.

Sources close to the discussions indicated that Jeffries and Kushner covered a range of topics, aiming to identify potential bipartisan cooperation. While Kushner does not hold an official White House role, he has maintained significant involvement in foreign policy matters and continues to advise the president.

Jeffries, in a statement to ABC News, reiterated the Democratic Party's stance on policy and governance. He characterized the Republican approach as "my-way-or-the-highway," asserting that it has not served the American people. He emphasized that Democrats are fighting for "transformational policy change" to address the affordability crisis, questioning whether Republicans would join them in these efforts.

The timing of this private meeting is notable, given the often adversarial relationship between President Trump and House Democrats. Trump has previously used strong language to criticize Jeffries, referring to him as a "thug" and a person with "low IQ." Jeffries, in turn, has labeled Trump a "wannabe thug."

However, President Trump's tone has shifted recently. In an interview this month, Trump described Jeffries as a "nice guy" and indicated they had a "good meeting." The two leaders had their sole official face-to-face meeting in the Oval Office on September 29, 2025, to discuss government funding.

Jeffries and Kushner have a history of working together. During the first Trump administration, they collaborated on legislation related to criminal justice and prison reform. The New York Times was the first to report on the recent private meeting between the two.

This engagement between leading figures from opposing political factions suggests a potential for dialogue even amidst heightened partisan rhetoric and an upcoming electoral contest. The specific outcomes or further steps resulting from the Jeffries-Kushner discussion remain unclear.