Jeffries Met Kushner Privately as Midterms Loom

Jeffries gave the Times a statement that did not explicitly confirm the meeting. "Throughout this Congress, Republicans have adopted a my-way-or-the-highway approach to governing that has failed the American people," he said.

He added: "In every conversation that we have with the Trump administration, we will continue to make it explicitly clear that the affordability crisis is not a hoax, and nothing short of transformational policy change is acceptable. We are fighting for an affordable America. The question is whether Republicans will join us."

The Times wrote that the timing of the meeting "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."

AlterNet, a left-leaning outlet, cast the report as further evidence that Republicans are bracing for defeat in November while Trump insists he can only lose a rigged election.