Top editors at Breitbart News have told their writers to stop criticizing White House senior adviser Jared Kushner following tension between Kushner and White House strategist and former Breitbart chief Stephen Bannon, according to a new report.
In a Monday report, Business Insider said it confirmed Breitbart’s changing stance on criticizing Kushner with two people familiar with the website’s workings.
Breitbart launched a flurry of attacks on Kushner and his allies last week after Bannon lost his permanent seat on the National Security Council. The stories included highlights of news articles from other outlets that questioned whether Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, can handle his growing portfolio.
By Monday, though, Breitbart downplayed any attacks on Kushner, with no stories mentioning the presidential adviser on its home page.
“This is 100 percent fake news,” said a Breitbart editor. “We don’t take orders from anybody about anything.”
Trump told Bannon and Kushner to “work this out” after becoming weary of their frequent disagreements, according to Trump.
Bannon and Kushner then reportedly met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. last week following the president’s order.
The main source of contention between Bannon and Kushner is purportedly their policy disagreements, with Bannon purportedly frustrated by what he sees as the moderate politics and growing power of the Kushner camp.
Kushner has voiced concern over Bannon’s influence on Trump and the latter’s provocative style.
Jonathan Easley contributed reporting.