17 ways to manipulate Jared Kushner
Well exactly; of course they have.
Officials in at least four countries have privately discussed ways they can manipulate Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, by taking advantage of his complex business arrangements, financial difficulties, and lack of foreign policy experience, according to current and former U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reports on the matter.
Naturally; why wouldn’t they? This is one reason it’s such a baaaaaaaaad idea to put an ignorant property-haver like Jared Kushner in charge of foreign affairs simply because he’s married to Daddy’s princess. He’s corrupt, he’s having trouble making payments, he knows absolutely nothing about foreign policy – of course people are talking about manipulating him.
Among those nations discussing ways to influence Kushner to their advantage were the United Arab Emirates, China, Israel and Mexico, the current and former officials said.
No biggy. At least it wasn’t Monaco, right?
It is unclear if any of those countries acted on the discussions, but Kushner’s contacts with certain foreign government officials have raised concerns inside the White House and are a reason he has been unable to obtain a permanent security clearance, the officials said.
…
H.R. McMaster, President Trump’s national security adviser, learned that Kushner had contacts with foreign officials that he did not coordinate through the National Security Council or officially report. The issue of foreign officials talking about their meetings with Kushner and their perceptions of his vulnerabilities was a subject raised in McMaster’s daily intelligence briefings, according to the current and former officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
Oh good god.
Within the White House, Kushner’s lack of government experience and his business debt were seen from the beginning of his tenure as potential points of leverage that foreign governments could use to influence him, the current and former officials said.
They could also have legal implications. Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has asked people about the protocols Kushner used when he set up conversations with foreign leaders, according to a former U.S. official.
Officials in the White House were concerned that Kushner was “naive and being tricked” in conversations with foreign officials, some of whom said they wanted to deal only with Kushner directly and not more experienced personnel, said one former White House official.
I’m sure that’s only because they like his sweet little innocent face.
“naive and being tricked”
Like father, like son-in-law?
There’s also the teensy possibility that the are both outright corrupt…
The corruption is a given. It’s the “being tricked” part that I find more likely. Trump’s best brain is vulnerable to flattery. He’s stupid enough to think he’s smart enough to know when he’s been played. The “naive” part comes from his lack of any relevent government or diplomatic experience, and his lack a theory of mind that would allow him to gauge or predict the likey moves and motives of others, particularly others with lots of such experience in international relations. He thinks other leaders “like” him; he thinks they believe him; he thinks that his bluff and bluster are credible. He’s playing tiddlywinks at a chess tournement and thinks his “dealmaking” skills are going to bring him out on top. He might be armed with the world’s largest arsenal and (nominal) head of state of one of the largest economies on Earth, but he’s minor league to the core. His volatility, ignorance and childishness cause more cautiousness and deliberation amongst allies and adversaries than his imagined, but unevidenced, knowledge, skill or talent. He’s bringing big yellow hair to a knife fight. He and Kushner are huge liabilities and security risks and nearly everyone but Trump and Kushner knows this.
Right, YNNB; now tell us what you really think…
Actually, great summary and excellent rant. Thank you.
YNnB, I agree with everything but this
I’d change that last and into a than. and stop the sentence there. The second half of the sentence is still valid in spirit though.