Hakeem Jeffries, Trump-son-in-law Jared Kushner met privately recently

Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the House Democrats, met privately with Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and informal adviser, to discuss possible common ground on issues such as housing, immigration, and affordability. The meeting, which occurred in New York City in recent weeks, has sparked controversy among Democrats who have criticized Kushner for his ties to the White House and his business dealings with autocratic countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar. Some Democrats see the meeting as a reasonable move to establish communication between the parties, but others are incredulous about Jeffries' decision to meet with Kushner, who has been involved in foreign affairs as a "special peace envoy" in conflicts in Iran, Gaza, and Ukraine. Jeffries has denied any wrongdoing, saying that he will hold the Trump administration accountable for its actions and that "no one is going to get a pass." The meeting comes ahead of the November midterm elections, which could result in Democrats taking control of the House and making Jeffries the next Speaker.