NEW YORK: President Donald Trump’s son-in-law reportedly offered advice to Saudi crown prince on how to “weather the storm” in the aftermath of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The New York Times reported on Saturday that Kushner and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known to have an informal relationship, continued to chat after Khashoggi’s killing inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, despite formal White House procedures for contacts with foreign leaders.

American officials and a Saudi briefed on the conversations told the NYT that the two men were on a first-name basis in their texts and phone calls.

One Saudi official said that Kushner offered “advice about how to weather the storm, urging him to resolve his conflicts around the region and avoid further embarrassments”, according to the report.

Kushner’s relationship with the crown prince has raised eyebrows, with some worried that he could be easily manipulated by the Saudis. Others familiar with the White House and Kushner told the Times that the adviser has urged Trump to stand by the crown prince in the wake of Khashoggi’s killing.

“Jared has always meticulously followed protocols and guidelines regarding the relationship with [the crown prince] and all of the other foreign officials with whom he interacts,” a White House spokesman told the Times.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2018