At various times throughout history, the United States has been required to deal with countries that do not share Western values. In some cases, our nation needed to collaborate with leaders who did not share the same concern for human rights.

These relationships, while not optimal, were necessary for securing American interests across the globe. Although these ties have not always yielded positive results, for the most part, they have ensured a level of stability, especially in the Middle East. However, the leadership of the United States typically has not treated these alliances in the same fashion as those with our Western allies – for good reason.

This raises important questions about Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Trump and one of his top advisers, and his relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. With the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, it might be time to re-evaluate Kushner’s relationship with the Saudi prince.

President Trump’s Concerns

The Washington Post reported that President Trump expressed concern over Kushner’s close relationship with Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stating that the “bromance” between the two could be a “liability.”

The president has not yet made a decision on how he will address Khashoggi’s murder. At one point, he said that he might believe Riyadh’s claim rogue agents killed the journalist against the wishes of the Saudi government. But more recently, Trump expressed doubts about that story. “Obviously there’s been deception, and there’s been lies,” he said.

Over the past year, Kushner has cultivated a special relationship with the crown prince, and many on the left have questioned such ties to the Saudi regime. After Saudi Arabia claimed that the journalist was killed in a “fistfight” at the consulate in Turkey, the left has placed more scrutiny on the interactions between Kushner and Salman. some — like Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) — have even intimated that the adviser may have played a role in Khashoggi’s death.

Earlier this year, Kushner made an unannounced trip to Saudi Arabia to meet with the crown prince. According to The Post, the two “stayed up until nearly 4 a.m. several nights, swapping stories and planning strategy.” The meeting itself was not alarming, given the fact that Riyadh is a key component of the United States’ Middle East strategy.

However, the Saudi leader caused a fuss in the establishment media when a report emerged that he claimed Kushner was “in his pocket.” The fact that Kushner regularly communicated with Salman over a secure messaging app called WhatsApp also raised some eyebrows.

Is the Kushner-Salman Relationship a Liability?

While the left has raised suspicions regarding Kushner and the crown prince, there is currently no evidence that their interactions have placed the national security of the United States at risk. Moreover, there is no proof that Kushner may have inadvertently caused the death of Khashoggi.

Nevertheless, the White House would be wise to re-examine the close ties between the two. While there may be no wrongdoing in their dealings, their involvement presents an appearance of impropriety. The left is constantly looking for new ways to attack the Trump administration, and when a White House adviser can be perceived as  hobnobbing with corrupt regimes, it could provide a legitimate weapon to Democrats.

While it is not clear if the president will punish Saudi Arabia with sanctions, he has indicated that we will not cease selling the Saudis weapons. Unfortunately, the U.S. relationship with Riyadh is pivotal when it comes to containing Iran and ensuring that it does not gain more influence in countries such as Yemen.

Sometimes, it is necessary for the United States to work with countries that do not share Western values. But it is important U.S. leadership ensures that  personal relationships at high levels with the heads of nations known for  tyrannical behavior  do not compromise, or even appear to compromise American values.