President Trump is said to be considering his son-in-law Jared Kushner as a possible replacement for John Kelly as White House chief of staff.
Kushner, who also serves as a senior administration official, has expressed interest in the job and met with Trump Wednesday to discuss the position, according to the Huffington Post Thursday.
But other outlets quickly received denials from sources who claim Kushner is not under consideration for the pivotal West Wing role.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said she’s not aware that Kushner is under consideration.
Talk of Kushner’s candidacy comes as Trump told the White House press corps Thursday he had whittled down options to succeed Kelly to five potential picks. Kelly, who is expected to depart at the end of the year, has served as Trump’s chief for 18 months.
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows was also rumored to be in the running after Nick Ayers, Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff, took himself out of contention on Sunday evening. But both White House press secretary Sarah Sanders and Meadows announced Wednesday the North Carolina Republican would remain in Congress for the foreseeable future.
Kushner has been an important adviser to Trump since the 2016 campaign. His wide-ranging portfolio of responsibilities cover a spectrum of policy issues from innovation to peace in the Middle East.
[Opinion: Trump doesn’t really want a chief of staff at all]
