Portrait of Mohammed bin Salman
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Mohammed bin Salman on Jared Kushner

Close confidante & ally (strong) Flip Head to head

TL;DR

Mohammed bin Salman cultivated a very close, influential relationship with Jared Kushner while he served in the White House.

Key Points

  • The Crown Prince reportedly told confidantes that he had the U.S. adviser "in his pocket" following their meetings in late 2017.

  • He allegedly claimed Kushner provided him with details on Saudi figures deemed disloyal during the anti-corruption crackdown starting in November 2017.

  • Mohammed bin Salman later refuted reports of having Kushner under his influence, describing the relationship as normal government-to-government contact in March 2018.

Summary

Mohammed bin Salman cultivated a notably close and personal relationship with Jared Kushner, the former senior advisor and son-in-law to the president he served under. This bond was reportedly so close that the Saudi Crown Prince allegedly bragged to confidantes that he had Kushner "in his pocket." The relationship allegedly involved direct, late-night communication, including via the WhatsApp messaging application, which raised concerns among experienced U.S. foreign policy officials.

This close tie was viewed by some as evidence that the Crown Prince was leveraging his connection to the U.S. government, especially during events like the crackdown on alleged corruption. Reports suggested that the Saudi leader claimed Kushner provided him with information about disloyal Saudi figures, some of whom were subsequently arrested. While the Crown Prince later denied claims of undue influence, stating their relationship was merely friendly and governmental, the perceived closeness remains a significant part of his political narrative.

Key Quotes

"in his pocket"

"in his pocket"

Frequently Asked Questions

The Saudi Crown Prince reportedly boasted to several parties that he had Jared Kushner, a key White House adviser, "in his pocket." These claims suggested a level of personal influence over the U.S. official that went beyond typical diplomatic relations. He later denied this, framing the connection as a standard, friendly government-to-government contact.

The primary public narrative centers on the closeness of their relationship, which the Crown Prince reportedly highlighted. However, following reports in early 2018 detailing this alleged influence, Mohammed bin Salman publicly pushed back against the specific description. He insisted the relationship was professional, suggesting an evolution in how he chose to publicly frame the personal connection.

Reports indicated that the Saudi leader suggested he used the relationship to gain insight into his domestic political rivals, allegedly receiving names from Kushner. This apparent leveraging of the close tie was a major source of concern for U.S. officials. The Crown Prince eventually rejected these specific allegations regarding shared intelligence.