Is Saudi Crown Prince Manipulating Trump Through Kushner?

FEATURING JUAN COLE – President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner is at the center of an exposé by the New York Times. The paper on Saturday published a lengthy investigation into how Kushner, “had been having private, informal conversations with [Saudi Crown] Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

The two men were on a first-name basis and their conversations continued even after the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi which the crown prince is known to have orchestrated.

The Times reporters wrote, “the ties between Mr. Kushner and Prince Mohammed did not happen on their own. The prince and his advisers, eager to enlist American support for his hawkish policies in the region and for his own consolidation of power, cultivated the relationship with Mr. Kushner for more than two years, according to documents, emails and text messages.” Kushner has been the Crown Prince’s most stalwart supporter inside the White House.

Meanwhile on Tuesday Time Magazine announced it’s Person of the Year as “The Guardians,” a group that includes Mr. Khashoggi.

Read Juan’s article ‘Is Kushner Covering for Bin Salman Murder Charge so Israel can Usurp Palestinian West Bank?,’ HERE.

Juan Cole is the Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan. He has written several books including ‘The New Arabs: How the Wired and Global Youth of the Middle East Is Transforming It,’ and ‘Engaging the Muslim World.’ He has a column at Truthdig.com and his blog, Informed Comment, can be found at juancole.com. His latest book is called Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires.