Trump Son-in-Law: Bridgegate Stunt 'Kind of Badass'

Two key figures in the world of Donald Trump are subject of lengthy profiles Monday: Son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Washington Post and adviser Steve Bannon in the New York Times. A sampling:

• Bannon: Critics "have variously called Mr. Bannon a racist, a sexist, an anti-Semite and an Islamophobe. Interviews with two dozen people who know him well, however, portray a man not easily labeled, capable of surprising both friends and enemies, with unshakable self-confidence and striking intensity." He has a "volcanic personality" and is a "screamer," but the notion that he's a bigot is "absolutely absurd." says his sister. Adds the newspaper: "Where some perceive racism and nativism, others see a different -ism: opportunism. Whatever may be in his heart, they say, Mr. Bannon was happy to draw a white nationalist following to Breitbart, while denying that was his intent." He viewed Trump throughout the campaign as the "imperfect vessel" with which he'd achieve "the revolution he had in mind." Read the full profile.

• Kushner: The 35-year-old is married to Trump daughter Ivanka, and "several Trump associates have said that Kushner will be a chief of staff in all but name, with wide-ranging—if sometimes hard-to-quantify—influence." While Trump was "brash and confrontational" in the campaign, Kushner was his opposite, "soft-spoken and discreet." He's known for family loyalty, and he took special interest in Trump supporter Chris Christie's "Bridgegate" scandal given that Christie years ago sent his father to prison as a prosecutor. In an email sent to a former Christie ally who resigned over the mess, Kushner "drew a parallel" between the man and his own father as two people wronged by Christie. He added: "Just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you and wishing the best. For what it's worth, I thought the move you pulled was kind of badass." A Kushner rep says the email was "poorly worded." Read the full profile.

(More Jared Kushner stories.)