Donald Trump has praised Jared Kushner as “outstanding” and “extraordinary” as he addressed whether his son in law should have access to secret intelligence.

In recent weeks it has emerged that Mr Kushner is still on a temporary security pass despite serving in the president's inner circle for the last year and sitting in on high-level intelligence briefings.

In his first public comments on the matter, Mr Trump said: “Jared is truly outstanding. He was very successful when he was in the private sector. He is working on peace in the Middle East.”

However, when asked about his temporary security clearance, he said: "That will be up to General Kelly. General Kelly respects Jared a lot and General Kelly will make that call.

"I won't make that call. I will let the general, who is right here, make that call. Jared is doing some very important things for our country - he gets paid zero."

Mr Trump has made achieving lasting peace in the region a key aim for his administration, and on Friday said an agreement for Middle East peace was “the toughest deal of any deal there is”.

“He’s an extraordinary deal maker,” he added.

Mr Trump made the remarks during a press conference with the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.