According to media reports, US President Donald Trump could make his son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner the new Chief of Staff in the White House. The 37-year-old husband of Trump’s daughter Ivanka is shortlisted for succeeding outgoing Chief of Staff John Kelly, the Huffington Post reported yesterday.
Trump had announced just a week ago that Kelly will vacate the post at the end of the year. Since then, the president has been looking for a successor to the job in the powerhouse in Washington – so far in vain. Thus, the favorite chief of staff of Vice President Mike Pence, Nick Ayres, said and announced his withdrawal from the White House. Even the ultra-conservative MP Mark Meadows said off.
Kushner would be the third chief of staff
Trump’s former chiefs of staff had a hard time in the White House. Kelly had followed the luckless Reince Priebus in July 2017. However, the relationship between the respected four-star general and the president is said to have worsened quickly.
Trump’s son-in-law Kushner is already an influential presidential advisor. Among other things, he played a central role in the free trade talks with Canada and Mexico and was to draw up a Middle East peace plan for Trump. Kushner also maintains close ties with Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has come under international scrutiny for killing journalist Jamal Khashoggi
