Jeffries Defends Kushner Meeting, Vows No Passes

Jeffries used the video to tout his side's record, saying House Democrats have fought Republicans and Trump over ICE, tariffs, Medicaid and a "reckless war of choice in Iran." He added: "Pam Bondi is gone, Kristi Noem is gone, and we're just getting started." Anyone "stealing from...shortchanging...or screwing over the American people" will be held accountable, he said, without naming names.

Crooked Media co-founder and former Obama White House staffer Tommy Vietor wrote on X: "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 Rep. Jeffries should work with him is with demands for documents and subpoenas."

Left-wing commentator and streamer Hasan Piker wrote: "Hakeem jeffries meeting kushner privately is a worse signal than him meeting the president publicly."

The split ran through the commentary pages too. One MSNBC opinion piece argued there was "more to be gained than lost" in Jeffries learning how the administration would react to his speakership. Another MSNBC piece argued Jeffries needs a plan for power and "won't get it from Jared Kushner," and that Democrats must show voters how they will connect accountability to action.