The New York Times continues to act as the Trump Administration’s court stenographer. Recall that on Friday they had the hot steaming scoop, spoon-fed into their mouths by Kushner’s people, that the only reason public-spirited private citizen Kushner wanted a top secret line to Moscow was to bring about world peace. The poor misunderstood lad. (The Post and other papers refused to pass this on to their readers unless they could identify the source as Kushner flaks.)
Today, to prove they are tough but fair, they have a long article that’s hard on Jared about Kushner’s allegedly strained relationship with Trump. But once again it’s the Trump Administration vomiting its spin directly onto the Times with little if any editing. … it’s just that this time, the spin is coming from a different faction.
It’s all pretty catty stuff, like listening to the Gray Lady describe a spat between two alpha mean girls in high school.
The most serious point of contention between the president and his son-in-law, two people familiar with the interactions said, was a video clip this month of Mr. Kushner’s sister, Nicole Meyer, pitching potential investors in Beijing on a Kushner Companies condominium project in Jersey City. At one point, Ms. Meyer — who remains close to her brother — dangled the availability of EB-5 visas to the United States as an enticement for Chinese financiers willing to shell out $500,000 or more.
For Mr. Trump, Ms. Meyer’s performance violated two major rules. Politically, it undercut his immigration crackdown, and in a personal sense, it smacked of profiteering off Mr. Trump — one of the sins that warrants expulsion from his orbit.
In the following days, the president made several snarky, disparaging comments about Mr. Kushner’s family and the visas during routine West Wing meetings that were clearly intended to express his annoyance, two aides said.
Mr. Kushner did not respond, at least not in earshot.
And who could possibly be leaking this bonanza of bitchiness? Well, who cares deeply about Trump’s immigration plan and has the sheer audacity to put in the claim that Trump is bothered by profiteering? Let’s look further:
His West Wing civil war with Mr. Bannon has been a damaging distraction … Mr. Kushner remains infuriated by what he believes to be a series of leaks about his team by Mr. Bannon, who has privately cautioned Mr. Trump against being “captured” by liberal, New York “globalists” associated with his son-in-law, according to three people close to the president.
Mr. Trump, however, has had enough. He recently chided Mr. Kushner for continuing to call for Mr. Bannon’s ouster, saying he wouldn’t fire his conservative populist adviser — who has deep connections with Mr. Trump’s white working-class base — simply because Mr. Kushner wanted him out, according an administration official.
I guess Steve Bannon didn’t think to mention that “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was playing on the soundtrack when Trump gave this stirring speech defending his loyal aide, since clearly the Times wouldn’t have had any qualms about including that detail verbatim.
The real giveaway that this is all comes from Bannon, though, is this:
Mr. Bannon, a onetime Kushner ally turned adversary known for working himself into ill health …
So that’s what you’re calling it, Steve? Well, the country owes you a debt of gratitude, Mr. Bannon. Without your hard work, we’d never find out what was at the bottom of that bottle.
