Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN)– Jared Kushner, son-in-law and advisor to former US President Donald Trump, published a memoir entitled “breaking History” in which he discussed the incident of preventing Prince Mohammed bin Salman (then Deputy Crown Prince) from entering the White House before Presidential Guard due to a problem with papers.
“Back in January, during the first phone call between Trump and King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi ruler told us to coordinate the potential trip with his son, Mohammed bin Salman, the charismatic 31-year-old deputy crown prince and defense minister,” Kushner wrote. , better known as MBS.Trump said I’d be the one for him, when I got back to my office I actually got an email from MBS asking to make a call. In March, while Mohammed bin Salman was in Washington negotiating the details (Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia), a snowstorm hit Northeast German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was scheduled to have lunch with the president, was canceled at the last minute because her plane might not take off from Germany.. She asked Trump if he would have lunch with Mohammed bin Salman, because the deputy crown prince was already in City.Trump thought it was a brilliant idea, despite White House National Security Council staff insisting that presidents never have lunch with foreign officials who are not heads of state.Trump rejected this bureaucratic protocol and decided to explore a potential partnership that might enhance the America’s interest in the Middle East…
Kushner continued, “Since Mohammed bin Salman was technically the third official in Saudi Arabia, the National Security Council staff did not allow him to bypass the security checkpoint and drive directly into the West Wing (White House), as they would allow heads of state. So my VP waited. The only employee at the time, Avi Berkowitz, was in the snow outside the security checkpoint to meet Mohammed bin Salman. When the deputy crown prince arrived, there was a problem with the papers and the presidential guard prevented him from entering. I ran to the gate and persuaded them to let him pass…”
He added, “Despite the difficult start of the visit, the lunch was a success. Trump told Mohammed bin Salman directly that he wanted stronger cooperation in combating terrorism, combating extremism and ending terrorist financing. He also expected Saudi Arabia to bear more of the defense burden in the region. America will not continue to spend precious blood Trillions of dollars on endless foreign wars It was a tough message, and Trump wasn’t shy. In response, Mohammed bin Salman unveiled an ambitious and comprehensive plan to combat terrorism. This ad hoc meeting reinforced my hunch that we should risk going to Saudi Arabia on the president’s first foreign trip. Trump gave me the green light to continue planning.”