WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said on Friday that his chief of staff, John Kelly, will be in charge of deciding whether to give a permanent security clearance to Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser.
“I will let General Kelly make that decision,” Trump said at a joint news conference at the White House with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. “I have no doubt he’ll make the right decision.”
Kelly last week ordered an overhaul of the White House security clearance process, following disclosures that Rob Porter, the former staff secretary, maintained access to highly classified information despite being unable to obtain a permanent clearance because of allegations of domestic abuse by two former wives.
