MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews compared President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's kids on Monday night.
"Let me just say, you know, we kid," Matthews said. "I kid about everything, but Uday and Qusay working for Saddam Hussein – you couldn’t go to a restaurant and have eye contact with those guys without getting killed. These people are really powerful. Imagine getting into a fight in the office with Jared or Ivanka, they have enormous power, and they’re always gonna be there."
Politico reporter Annie Karni responded that this is what worries her about Ivanka and Jared being top officials in the Trump White House.
"This is what I worry about for other people in the White House," Karni said. "Ivanka Trump has been described as her father’s eyes and ears on the ground. That’s a little scary if you’re just a regular White House staffer."
Uday and Qusay Hussein were the sons of Saddam Hussein and were prominent figures during their father's dictatorship. The two sons were responsible for numerous crimes against the Iraqi people. Uday was known for torturing athletes if they didn't perform to his standards, while Qusay ordered the killing of his father's political opponents.
Matthews made the comparison after recent news that Jared and Ivanka's power within the White House is growing. The White House recently announced that Kushner would lead the 'American Innovation' office at the White House, which is tasked to reform the government using private sector solutions. It was also announced that Ivanka would have her own office within the West Wing.
It isn't the first time Trump's kids were compared to the Iraqi dictator's kids. Back in September, HBO's Bill Maher compared Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump to Uday and Qusay Hussein.
"Donald Trump also once said, ’Sometimes people will come into my office and they will be great. They will look great, they’ll sound great, they dress beautifully. Everything is great. Then after you hire them they turn out to be morons,’ which explains his sons Uday and Qusay," Maher said.