White House senior adviser Jared Kushner has reportedly been in regular contact with incoming national security adviser John Bolton over the past year to ask him for advice.
The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Kushner has called Bolton for advice and insight about the United Nations, among other issues. In addition, White House aides reportedly asked Kushner to speak with Bolton about important policy matters so that Bolton was familiar with the administration’s positions on various issues when he went on cable TV.
Prior to joining the White House, Bolton worked as a commentator for Fox News.
{mosads}Kushner is responsible for an expansive White House portfolio that includes working on a Middle East peace agreement and relations with Mexico. It’s unclear how his responsibilities have been changed after his security clearance was recently downgraded.
President Trump last week tweeted that he’d chosen Bolton, a former U.N. ambassador during the George W. Bush administration, to replace H.R. McMaster as his national security adviser.
Democrats have expressed concerns about Bolton’s past pro-war views, particularly during his time in the Bush administration leading up to the Iraq War.
Bolton’s appointment is one in a series of recent changes within Trump’s cabinet.
Trump’s top economic adviser, Gary Cohn, resigned earlier this month. Trump picked Larry Kudlow to replace him.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was forced out earlier this month as well. Trump has nominated CIA Director Mike Pompeo as Tillerson’s replacement.
On Wednesday, Trump tweeted that he intends to replace Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin with Adm. Ronny Jackson, who is currently the White House physician.