‘Are We Really Still Doing This?’ Jared Kushner Whines When Asked About the $2 Billion He Got from Saudi Government That Killed Khashoggi
Former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner whined on Tuesday after being asked a question about the $2 billion he received from the same Saudi Arabian government that U.S. intelligence determined had killed and dismembered Jamal Khashoggi.
During a live interview at Axios BFD: Miami, Axios business editor Dan Primack asked Kushner about the massive investment his company received from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund following his departure from the White House.
“You leave public service, you spend all this time particularly with Saudi Arabia, working with them, you leave, a couple months later, six months later, you get $2 billion,” noted Primack. “From an optics perspective, or even an ethics perspective, were you at the time concerned about taking money from PIF, and if you could do it again, would you have done it at all differently?”
Kushner responded by hailing the Saudi Arabian state as “one of the most prestigious investors in the world,” and said, “What they’re doing in that country is absolutely incredible and everyone who goes there says that their mind is blown.”
He added, “I think what’s happening in Saudi Arabia is one of the most exciting transformations that we’re seeing now in the world.”
Primack then followed up, “As you said, lots and lots of private equity firms, other folks are trying to raise money from Saudi Arabia and are raising money from Saudi Arabia. Some, however, stopped after the Jamal Khashoggi murder.”
As Kushner could be seen fidgeting in his seat, Primack noted:
Some either gave money back or stopped. At the time, you said you wanted to wait for the [Director of National Intelligence] report, for the kind of official report, for the State Department report before talking about it. You kind of only give very glancing mentions in your book to it. The DNI report came out a couple weeks after you left the White House. It says that MBS, personally, was responsible [for Khashoggi’s murder]. Do you agree with the DNI, or do you believe that report?
“Are we really still doing this, Dan?” protested Kushner, to which Primack replied, “Yeah, absolutely.”
Kushner answered, “Look, I know the person who I dealt with. I think he’s a visionary leader. I think what he’s done in that region is transformational.”
He continued, “I think what’s happened there is absolutely critical. The person who deserves credit for that is Mohammed bin Salman, who at that time was the deputy crown prince, and I think what he’s done has been absolutely historic for the country. I think he’s done a lot of things that are in America’s interest and I think he’s done a lot of things that have made the world a better place.”
On Khashoggi’s murder, Kushner concluded, “I understand why people are upset about that. I think what happened there was absolutely horrific, but again, our job was to represent America, to try to push forward things in America.”
Watch above via Axios.
