Ocasio-Cortez mocks idea Kushner could be Trump’s chief of staff

Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Friday mocked reports that Jared Kushner, a White House senior adviser and President Trump’s son-in-law, is being considered for the soon-to-be-open chief of staff position.

“Ah yes, of course, it’s classic Republican ‘bootstrap’ meritocracy: where the smartest, hardest-working, most fitting person for the job just so happens to be your son-in-law,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.

Ah yes, of course, it’s classic Republican “bootstrap” meritocracy: where the smartest, hardest-working, most fitting person for the job just so happens to be your son-in-law. https://t.co/u6mqhrJlGS

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 14, 2018

{mosads}The incoming congresswoman was responding to reports that Kushner might be tapped to succeed John Kelly as White House chief of staff.

Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, has worked on developing the administration’s Middle East plan and criminal justice reform. 

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters on Thursday night that she was not aware whether Kushner was under consideration for the role.

“But as I think all of us here would recognize, he will be great in any role that the president chooses to put him in,” Sanders said. “He has done a tremendous job on a number of fronts, whether it was on trade or what we’ve seen play out over the last week on criminal justice reform. He’s done a great job on all those efforts.”

Kushner is not inclined to take the job because he is happy in his current role, according to a Reuters report. 

Trump said he has narrowed the list of candidates for the position down to five and hopes to fill the position by the end of the month when Kelly leaves his role. 

Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) is also reportedly among the potential candidates, with some reports noting he met with Trump on Thursday evening. 

Nick Ayers, a Republican operative currently serving as chief of staff to Vice President Pence, was seen as a leading contender for the role, but he pulled himself out of the running, saying he would return to his home state of Georgia with his wife and children. 

Ayers plans to work for a pro-Trump super PAC.