CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin on Wednesday tore into Jared Kushner’s role in the Trump administration, saying that it’s “an embarrassment that he has any power at all.”
As panelists on “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” discussed whether Kushner should be involved in discussions with Saudi Arabia about missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi due to his personal relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Toobin interjected to question whether President Trump’s son-in-law should have a role in the White House at all.
{mosads}”Is there anything that qualifies Jared Kushner to be dealing with any of these issues?” he inquired. “He’s an unsuccessful real estate developer who inherited millions of dollars and married the president’s daughter. He’s completely unqualified. This is gross nepotism and it’s just an embarrassment that he has any power at all.”
Kushner has faced criticism for his ties to the crown prince following Khashoggi’s disappearance.
Administration officials expressed concerns about his communications with Crown Prince Mohammed on private channels, including through the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp, CNN reported Wednesday.
Kushner’s relationship with the crown prince reportedly raised concerns among national security staffers early in his White House role and has come under increased scrutiny as U.S. officials try to get answers about Khashoggi.
Turkish intelligence officials have said that Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul earlier this month when he went to get paperwork for his marriage.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Saudi King Salman on Tuesday to discuss the situation and is scheduled to brief President Trump on the meeting on Wednesday.
In the same CNN segment, reporter Kaitlan Collins said that Kushner did not accompany Pompeo on his trip to Riyadh because “White House officials were scared there was going to be a lot of backlash” if Kushner attended the meeting.