New York, New York - House Minority Leader and New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries used a video on social media to address criticism of his recent meeting with Jared Kushner, declaring: "No one is going to get a pass!"
"I wanted to give you a little real talk on this Jared Kushner situation," Jeffries said in a brief two-minute video posted to X on Monday. "He asked for a meeting and I took it to discuss the affordability crisis that exists – that is not a hoax."
"At the same time, I shouldn't have to say it, but I am: No one is going to get a pass. We're going to hold every single member of the Trump cartel accountable."
Jeffries' comments came after a New York Times report alleged he had met with Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and unofficial adviser, in New York to discuss how the White House can find "common ground" with Democrats.
The report has sparked bitter backlash from many Democrats, who were angered that Jeffries would meet with Kushner behind closed doors and worried that he'll be soft on the GOP if the Democrats regain control of the House in November.
"The only meeting Hakeem Jeffries should be having with Jared Kushner is to tell him he'll be subpoenaed by the House for a corruption investigation on Day One of Democratic control of the House," Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan wrote on X. "This is just pathetic stuff from the House Dem leader."
Jeffries, dressed in a green polo shirt and an equally green New York Yankees baseball cap, sought to relieve these concerns in his video, repeatedly insisting he'll hold the Trump administration accountable.
"If you're stealing from the American people, short changing the American people, or screwing over the American people, you're going to be held accountable," he said.