White House denies reports of 'stormy and abrupt' meeting between Kushner and Kuwait ambassador

White House adviser and Kuwait ambassador clashed over Palestine, Kuwaiti media reports

White House adviser Jared Kushner speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Mr Kushner is one of the main authors of the upcoming Middle East peace plan. Susan Walsh / AP

President Donald Trump's administration has dismissed reports by Kuwaiti media that White House senior adviser Jared Kushner had a “stormy and abrupt” meeting with the Kuwaiti ambassador to the United States.

According to newspaper Al Rai, the senior official clashed with Sheikh Salem Al Sabah over the Gulf state's support for Palestine in the United Nations Security Council.

However a senior White House official on Sunday said Mr Kushner and Ambassador Al Sabah “had a very positive meeting at the White House and exchanged views about the Middle East peace process”.

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After a scheduled 30-minute meeting Mr Kushner reportedly excused himself to go to a meeting with National Security Advisor John Bolton. US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt concluded the meeting with the ambassador.

Kuwait last week pushed for a proposal to establish a permanent UN force in Palestine to help protect Palestinians - it was vetoed by the US.

The US also put forward a proposal calling for the condemnation of Hamas for the recent escalation in Gaza - this proposal failed to get any support from other members.

Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley voiced disappointment over the council’s failure to adopt the statement, calling the inaction “outrageous” and describing the UN body as “disconnected”.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign affairs dismissed reports that the US had expressed dissatisfaction with Kuwait’s position in the UN Security Council.