Tillerson, Kelly internally complain about Kushner encroachments: report

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and White House chief of staff John Kelly have voiced frustration about Jared Kushner’s encroachment on Tillerson’s position, according to a report from Politico.

Tillerson is reportedly frustrated with Kushner’s involvement in foreign affairs, which are usually handled by the nation’s diplomatic corps. Kushner, however, has been responsible for Israeli-Palestinian relations, as well as U.S. relations with Mexico and China.

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Tillerson has also reportedly expressed frustration about U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and national security adviser H.R. McMaster over what he reportedly sees as an encroachment on his position.

“We can’t have four secretaries of state,” Tillerson said. 

Politico also reports that Kelly has repeated Tillerson’s complaints, which reportedly have not been taken well by Kushner. 

“We need a secretary of state who is supportive of the president,” Kushner told Kelly, according to Politico.

The Hill has reached out to the White House and the State Department for comment.

Kelly is in the process of grappling with the issue of Kushner’s security clearance in the White House.

The White House has implemented new procedures on security clearances to ensure swift and comprehensive background reviews for staff with access to sensitive information in the wake of the scandal surrounding domestic abuse allegations against former staff secretary Rob Porter. 

Porter was able to review classified information on a partial security clearance for months despite the fact that the FBI informed the White House that his two ex-wives had accused him of abuse.

The incident drew attention to Kushner’s security clearance.

Kushner is reportedly one of only a few people in the White House with access to the president’s daily intelligence briefings.

Trump said on Friday that Kelly would have the final say on Kushner’s security clearance. 

“I will let Gen. Kelly make that decision,” Trump said at a news conference. “And he’s going to do what’s right for the country. And I have no doubt he will make the right decision.”