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Jared Kushner: A Weak Link
Many of us are very pleased with the choices that President Trump has made for his cabinet and for SCOTUS. Many of those selected are familiar with the ins and outs of government, and those who aren’t are experienced with working with sensitive and global issues and leaders. So I’d like to explain my reservations with the president’s selection of Jared Kushner as a senior adviser who is now taking on the management and/or leadership of a number of projects, both domestic and international.
First, I’d like to list the roles he has been assigned with a limited description of his duties and responsibilities:
- White House Office of American Innovation—this work entails coordinating between the public and private sector to streamline government.
- Shadow diplomat—according to the Washington Post, he is “the primary point of contact for presidents, ministers and ambassadors from more than two dozen countries.”
- Middle East Broker—working on a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians.
- Reforming care for veterans—it isn’t clear what his role will be.
- Fighting opioid addiction—again, his role has not been defined publicly.
It’s been pointed out that he has many other duties in the White House, but these are the ones that have been identified.
So here are my concerns:
Kushner is described as a real estate and media mogul, and has been very successful. He was also a key member of Trump’s campaign team. He not only has no government experience, but is only 36 years old. Although I’m sure he’s talented, Trump himself spoke of Kushner in an interview: “Jared is such a good kid and he’ll make a deal with Israel that no one else can,” he told the UK Sunday Times: “He’s a natural deal-maker — everyone likes him.” Trump may be right, but calling Kushner a kid and characterizing him as likeable doesn’t fill me with confidence.
His domestic responsibilities generate less concern for me than the international activities. I don’t have a problem with his spearheading the Office of American Innovation, although it’s been tried before:
But the Trump team is hardly the first seeking to improve how the government operates. The Reagan administration tasked the Grace Commission in 1982 with uncovering wasteful spending and practices, while the Clinton administration sought its own reinvention of government in 1993 with what was initially called the National Performance Review. Previous commissions have not produced overwhelming results in changing the stubborn bureaucracy, casting some doubt on what Kushner’s team can accomplish.
Still, I don’t mind his trying to streamline government, and the task certainly aligns with his business experience.
The other domestic issues are serious concerns, such as care for veterans and opioid addiction. My hope is that he brings in experienced, competent and creative people to work on these concerns.
My biggest concerns are with his international responsibilities. With his lack of international diplomatic experience, I question his role as “shadow diplomat.” He may not be making decisions and only act as a liaison, but working with foreign countries can require a level of understanding and sophistication that he may or may not have. Unintentionally he may say or do something that compromises our relationships with other countries.
I am especially concerned about his potential role in the Middle East. I know that he is familiar with Israel and the Palestinians, but I don’t know his beliefs or biases towards those countries; although he is working for a Republican administration, he is a liberal. And finally, could he unintentionally or purposefully compromise the strategies and goals of our Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson? Since the specifics of his role are unclear, and bringing him up to speed may be a monumental task, the potential for snafus or conflict are there.
Finally, will Trump take action if Kushner is not effective? Or is he so fond of him and impressed with his overall credentials that he will overlook errors or difficulties?
I wish Trump had not picked Jared Kushner for these tasks, particularly those that are internationally complex and conflicted. It doesn’t bode well.
Published in Politics
Thanks for elaborating, MJ. I’d like to respond by saying that my criticisms of Jared Kushner were not only his youth and that he is a liberal. I pointed to his diplomatic inexperience as well. Actually I am a “nervous Nellie”–that comment didn’t bother me! But the comparison to the Left did. I’d suggest that speculation is appropriate, especially when Kushner is an unknown and will be in a highly influential position. My observations were stated without hyperbole, and I think it is worthwhile to watch what he does. I don’t spend a lot of my time thinking about Kushner, but at the same time I think I have a legitimate concern. We can just disagree.
It isn’t “normal” but it’s not unheard of. There was some talk that Trump looked into the issue of nepotism, so I expect Kushner falls outside of that concern. And let’s remember Bobby Kennedy with JFK.
Darn it, I! As usual, you should have written this post! ;-) You’ve made my points even clearer. For me, the lack of clarity of what he’ll be doing and how much power he actually has. I’d be feeling a little better if I knew that he will be “monitored.” Thanks!
Point taken, Isaac! Let’s hope the days of insulting our best friends is in the past.
Not sure what your concern is on Ivanka? They are a young couple and reflect that – both successful. I think she is very smart, and seems like a very gracious, kind woman and good mother.
Manny might be referring to the fact that she is also technically working in the administration (I’m pretty sure). I’m less concerned with her because she will have a less significant role.
Thanks but your too kind. You know the daughter bothers me more than her husband, she’ll be harder to control, has more access and influence knows even less and is more progressive than any of them. Some comments above don’t want us beating up on youth which is a good point if we’re talking about going to war, or conquering frontiers whether territorial or scientific, where experience and the caution of age can inhibit, and it’s hard to draw that line but there is a difference between what is knowable, discoverable and conquerable and what isn’t.
She has been ambigous on abortion and recently seen her be chummy with the CEO of Planned Parenthood. If she’s not pro-life – which is my biggest issue – then what else is she Liberal on? She doesn’t strike me as being conservative. Her brothers are strongly pro-NRA. I have not heard of her being strong on any conservative issue. Do you know of any issue she is strongly conservative on? I’m a New Yorker, and I know a bunch of successful New York City successful women. Very few are conservative. Most are Liberal.
In what way do you think she will be harder to control, in which areas, and what do you see as a result?
She has been speaking for her father at a number of events, most recently in Germany. At minimum she brings the same weight of a president’s spouse. Her husband has such a big role, that it might be more powerful than a president’s spouse.
She’ll influence the President directly as a daughter, then others have to move him off whatever influence she’s had. It would be domestic policy such as health and education where she’s said a few things, like thinking support for universal preschool a good thing which is a horrible idea. I don’t know if she really gave a nudge to bomb Syria but if she did I don’t think that’s a good sign. I saw the humanitarian angle perfect cover for doing what he needed to do to impress the Chinese and everybody else that he’s willing to use force and isn’t to be crossed.
As I understand it, one of Kushner’s tasks assigned to him by himself is to keep Steve Bannon marginalized.
That bothers me. Bannon is the subject of vicious press because he’s exactly the kind of swamp drainer we need on domestic policy. We don’t need that on foreign policy we have some real adults there, we just need some depth and breadth and soon. We vastly underestimate what’s required and over estimate a President or a Secretary’s breadth of vision.
Let me preface this information with the note that there is confusion about whether the U.S. or Canada initiated this phone call. I just find it interesting, given our discussion about Kushner:
The personal appeal that President Trump said he received from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month — leading him to renegotiate NAFTA — was only made after Trump’s son-in-law and top aide Jared Kushner called Trudeau’s office in Ottawa and begged him to talk some sense into the commander-in-chief, a report says.
If the base blames Jared, rather than Trump, for Trump not keeping his promise about NAFTA – well then this boy is politically quite valuable. Imho it’s all theatre – Trump knew dumping NAFTA would be immensely and immediately disrupting.