Jared Kushner quietly met with the Saudi king and crown prince. Jamal Khashoggi's murder didn't come up.
While President Trump was arriving in Vietnam ahead of his visit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, senior adviser Jared Kushner quietly met with the two most powerful men in Saudi Arabia.
Kushner, along with Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt and Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, traveled to Saudi Arabia and spoke with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Tuesday.
The White House revealed the meeting on Wednesday, saying the group discussed increasing U.S.-Saudi cooperation, U.S. attempts to facilitate peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and economic investment in Saudi Arabia.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In the past, Kushner has had a positive relationship with the Saudis and with the crown prince in particular. Bin Salman previously said he had Kushner "in his pocket," and the two have reportedly worked together strategically before.
After the murder of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi last October, the CIA said they had "high confidence" that bin Salman was responsible for ordering his death. Despite this conclusion, neither Kushner nor President Trump outwardly condemned bin Salman, and instead Kushner continued to provide advice to the crown prince on how to handle the media frenzy surrounding the murder. Kushner and bin Salman reportedly did not discuss Khashoggi on Tuesday.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Marianne is The Week’s Social Media Editor. She is a native Tennessean and recent graduate of Ohio University, where she studied journalism and political science. Marianne has previously written for The Daily Beast, The Crime Report, and The Moroccan Times.
-
Why ghost guns are so easy to make — and so dangerous
The Explainer Untraceable, DIY firearms are a growing public health and safety hazard
By David Faris Published
-
The Week contest: Swift stimulus
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'It's hard to resist a sweet deal on a good car'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published