Trump son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner in Iraq, US official says

He was invited by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the official said.

ByABC News
April 3, 2017, 8:15 AM

— -- Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, is in Iraq, a U.S. official confirmed today.

Kushner, who is married to Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka, was invited by Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the official said. Thomas Bossert, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, is also traveling with them.

The three men are traveling together and will receive an update on the campaign to defeat ISIS.

"Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, Gen Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., has arrived in Iraq for meetings with Iraqi, American and Coalition officials,” a spokesman for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement today.

The statement added: "Gen. Dunford invited Mr. Kushner and Mr. Bossert to meet with Iraqi leaders, senior U.S. advisors, and visit with U.S. forces in the field to receive an update on the status of the counter-ISIS campaign in Iraq and Syria.It is the first trip to Iraq for Mr. Kushner and Mr. Bossert. As well as receiving briefings and updates, Mr. Kushner is traveling on behalf of the President to express the President's support and commitment to the Government of Iraq and U.S. personnel currently engaged in the campaign. Mr. Bossert is traveling in his role as Assistant to the President and will participate in meetings and briefings to reinforce the strong U.S.-Iraqi partnership to defeat ISIS."

The president welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to the White House late last month, pledging to continue to support the fight against ISIS. The prime minister later said Trump assured him the United States would "accelerate" its support of the Middle Eastern nation.

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