Blair denies role as Trump adviser on New York trip
Former prime minister seen lunching with Jared Kushner, the new ‘kingmaker’
TONY BLAIR last night dismissed as “beyond speculation” claims that he is being lined up as an adviser to Donald Trump after he was spotted having lunch with the president-elect’s influential son-in-law in New York.
Mr Blair was spotted deep in conversation with Jared Kushner, who is married to Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka, at Cipriani’s hotel restaurant. Mr Blair and Mr Kushner, who is now viewed as the “kingmaker” of the incoming White House team, have known each other for “several years”.
The meeting has led to suggestions – vigorously denied by Mr Blair – that the former prime minister could be offered some form of advisory role in a Trump administration.
He remains keen to broker a peace deal in the Middle East and retains a staffed office in Tel Aviv.
Mr Blair’s spokesman said yesterday: “Tony Blair has known Jared Kushner for several years. Mr Blair was walking past their lunch table. He knew a number of people at the table and he was invited to join them.
“He has not discussed any role. This is completely overblown.”
It is not clear how Mr Blair first got to know Mr Kushner, but it is possible that they were introduced through Rupert Murdoch and his then-wife Wendi Deng. Miss Deng is a close friend of Ivanka Trump and helped rekindle her relationship with Mr Kushner by inviting both for a yachting holiday.
Yesterday Mr Trump remained ensconced inside Trump Tower, working on his cabinet team.
Nikki Haley, the governor of South Carolina, was a firm critic of Mr Trump but is believed to be being considered for secretary of state, despite having little foreign policy experience.
She was invited to Trump Tower alongside Shinzo Abe, the prime minister of Japan, who became the first world leader to meet the president-elect. Mr Abe said after the meeting that Mr Trump was a “leader in whom I can have great confidence” and described their meeting as “candid” and “warm”.
Yesterday James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, officially announced his resignation – a long-anticipated move, regardless of the election outcome. Mr Clapper, 75, said he “felt pretty good” about handing in his resignation and that he only has 64 more days in office – a thought that pleases his wife. He was said to have been counting the days until his retirement, and “fist-bumping” President Barack Obama as the tally went down.
No cabinet positions for the incoming administration have been announced. However, Mr Kushner is believed to be orchestrating the “knife fight” for power inside Trump Tower, ousting those loyal to Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor who prosecuted Mr Kushner’s father for tax evasion, and ushering in people he believes to be more suitable.
Last night The New York Times reported that Mr Kushner was consulting lawyers about accepting a White House role, to see whether it would fall foul of the 1967 Nepotism Act.
On Sunday Mr Trump will meet Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, who said in March that Mr Trump was a “con man” and a “fraud” who would lead the US into a recession and make the world less safe.
Sources have said Mr Romney is being considered for a cabinet position – perhaps even secretary of state. Relations between the two appear to have warmed since Mr Romney called Mr Trump and congratulated him on his election victory, a gesture that the president-elect called “very nice”.
David Petraeus, the retired general who resigned in disgrace as CIA director and pleaded guilty to providing classified information to his mistress, is also reportedly in consideration for secretary of state.
Mr Trump’s team announced yesterday that he would embark on a “victory tour” through swing states in the coming weeks, an unorthodox move for an incoming president.