Believe it or not, even being the son-in-law of a former U.S. President doesn’t guarantee you unlimited access to the nation's secrets. Jared Kushner, husband of Ivanka Trump, has recently seen his top-secret security clearance revoked, as reported by Politico. This move comes as a significant blow to his role in the White House. Interestingly, Ivanka’s security clearance now seems to hinge on a "need-to-know" basis, raising questions about her access to classified information.
What Does This Mean for Jared?
Let’s break this down. According to Bradley Moss, a national security lawyer, the decision by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly to downgrade Jared’s clearance from Top Secret/SCI to Secret will significantly hinder his ability to perform his duties as a senior advisor. Think about it: how can someone act as a diplomatic envoy if they’re not privy to the full spectrum of intelligence? Jared will no longer have access to the detailed intelligence reports that are crucial for negotiations with foreign officials. He’ll be flying blind in many ways, relying on limited information that might not paint the full picture.
How Does This Impact Ivanka?
While Jared’s clearance has been downgraded, Ivanka’s security clearance will be assessed independently, though there’s bound to be some overlap given their shared roles and responsibilities. Mark Zaid, another national security attorney, told People that we’ll only know the true extent of Ivanka’s clearance if someone leaks information from the West Wing. “This is all privacy-protected information,” Zaid explained. “The White House must make a conscious decision to release it, or it’s being leaked, which has been the norm.”
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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Politics Enters the Picture
Meanwhile, Democrats have been pushing for Ivanka’s security clearance to be revoked for months, citing concerns over her use of a private email account for government business and missed deadlines for financial disclosure forms. In a letter to White House counsel Don McGahn, Representatives Ted Lieu and Don Beyer highlighted what they described as “severe credibility issues” with Ivanka Trump, given her role as a White House official and advisor to the President. This scrutiny underscores the seriousness of national security protocols and the accountability expected from high-profile figures like Ivanka and Jared. Clearly, Chief of Staff John Kelly isn’t one to take national security lightly.
As the political drama unfolds, the spotlight remains on how these changes will affect Jared’s role and whether Ivanka’s clearance will face similar scrutiny. One thing’s for sure: in the world of politics, every decision has ripple effects, and this one is no exception.
