House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) confirmed he held a private meeting with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump. The meeting reportedly covered policy topics including housing, immigration, and the cost of living.

Following reports of the meeting, Jeffries faced criticism from some observers. In response, he took to social media to clarify his position, stating that “no one from the Trump Cartel is getting a pass.” This comment was widely interpreted as an attempt to distance himself from the former administration and reassure his political base that the meeting did not signal a change in his opposition to the Trump family’s political influence.

While both outlets agree that the meeting occurred and that Jeffries used the term “Trump cartel” in his response, they differ on the characterization of his actions. The Washington Examiner frames the event as a “backtrack” by Jeffries, suggesting he was forced to change his tone due to the backlash. In contrast, The Hill presents the statement as a direct response to the criticism without explicitly labeling his actions as a retreat from his initial position.