Jared Kushner dodges questions on whether Trump is racist, Saudi crown prince, despite Axios' best effort


A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
In the teaser for Sunday's Axios on HBO, reporter Jonathan Swan pressed Jared Kushner — President Trump's son-in-law and senior White House adviser — on his "close and influential relationship" with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. After noting that bin Salman ordered the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, kidnapped Lebanon's prime minister, and "indiscriminately bombs civilians in Yemen," Swan asked Kushner, "What do you see in this guy?"
Kushner said he feels that the Trump administration and the Saudi government share "a lot of interests" and "our goal is to pursue those." Regarding Khashoggi's murder, he said, "look, it's a horrific thing that happened and what we've done is call for full transparency. We are working on an investigation to get to the bottom of what happened. Once we have all the facts, then we'll make a policy determination, but that would be up to the secretary of state to push on our policy." The CIA and Republican-led Senate have determined that bin Salman is responsible for Khashoggi's death, Axios notes.
Kushner insisted Trump is "absolutely not" and never was a racist, and when Swan pointed to Trump's lead role in the "birtherism" lie that former President Barack Obama was born in Africa and Trump's promised ban on Muslim travelers to the U.S., Kushner just repeated that he "wasn't involved" in those things.
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.
Kushner also deflected Swan's questions on why Palestinians would want to work with him on a peace plan with Israel.
Kushner also suggested that the Palestinians aren't "capable of governing" themselves yet. Read more at Axios.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Peter Weber is a senior editor at TheWeek.com, and has handled the editorial night shift since the website launched in 2008. A graduate of Northwestern University, Peter has worked at Facts on File and The New York Times Magazine. He speaks Spanish and Italian and plays bass and rhythm cello in an Austin rock band. Follow him on Twitter.
-
Bribery indictment
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
The daily gossip: Hollywood writers and studios reach tentative agreement to end strike, Taylor Swift attends Chiefs game amid Travis Kelce dating rumors, and more
The daily gossip: September 25, 2023
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Disaster averted
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
Exodus begins from Burning Man after desert mud trapped tens of thousands
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett dies at 76
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
American Airlines suing website that offers tickets via price loopholes
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Federal agencies investigating near miss between Southwest jet and private plane
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Euphoria' star Angus Cloud dies at 25
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens dies at 70
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Trader Joe's recalls 4 products in a week amid reports of rocks and insects inside food
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Emmys to be postponed for first time since after 9/11 due to strikes
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published