Jared Kushner uses his vocal chords in first public remarks, social media goes wild
President Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser made his first public remarks since stepping into his White House role at the inaugural American Technology Council meeting on Monday, sending social media into a frenzy.
President Trump met with chief executives of technology companies including Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc on Monday as the White House looks to the private sector for help in cutting government waste. As part of the newly created American Technology Council, Trump tapped Kushner to lead a White House Office of American Innovation to implement business ideas in the public sector.
"We have challenged ourselves to pursue change that will provide utility to Americans far beyond our tenure here," Kushner stated in his remarks on Monday. "Together, we have set ambitious goals and empowered interagency teams to tackle our objectives. It's working and it's very exciting."
He speaks! Have you ever heard Jared Kushner's voice before? Here you go. pic.twitter.com/QKElf1bynn
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) June 19, 2017
Because this was Kushner's first public address since January, social media was alive with excitement and commentary over his appearance before press.
Click through for a look at reactions to Kushner's remarks:
Kushner pointed to the Department of Veterans Affairs as a government entity that could benefit from technology advances implemented within the private sector.
"Most [VA] services still use paper forms, including 90 percent of health care applications and 86 percent of claims," Kushner said. "Our veterans deserve better, and that's what we are going to deliver."
Kushner's remarks come as the senior adviser is set to return to the Middle East for Israeli-Palestine peace talks in Ramallah and Jerusalem.
The Monday ATC meeting comes as the White House pushes to shrink government, cut federal employees and eliminate regulations.
"Our goal here is simple," Kushner said in discussing the Council. "We are here to improve the day to day lives of the average citizen. That is a core promise and we are keeping it."
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