- December 12, 2025
- 11:43 am
- World News
Jared Kushner is once again alongside Donald Trump — and this return no longer seems formal. After a four-year hiatus, he is once again in the close circle of people involved in sensitive international negotiations. This time, it’s on two fronts that are shaping the global agenda today: Gaza and Ukraine.
Kushner operates not publicly, but systematically. Together with Trump and the special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, he participates in consultations on possible formats for peace agreements. Simultaneously, his name surfaced in another, no less high-profile story — Paramount’s investment attempt to acquire Warner Bros. This deal could potentially lead to partial influence of the Trump family on CNN, adding political tension to the situation.
Return without an official position
During Trump’s first administration, Kushner and Ivanka Trump worked in the White House as special advisors. At that time, many expected him to be a restraining factor for the president’s abrupt decisions. To some extent, this happened: Kushner was one of the architects of the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries.
He also participated in developing the Israeli-Palestinian settlement plan. The document was high-profile but was never implemented. Nevertheless, this experience today makes him a useful negotiator again — especially in the context of new attempts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza.
After Trump’s defeat in the 2020 elections, Kushner and Ivanka moved to Florida. They bought a house on an island referred to in the American press as a “billionaire’s refuge.” At that time, Kushner emphasized that he was not interested in returning to power. He moved to the private sector — seemingly for a long time.
Money, influence, and ethical questions
During this time, Kushner founded the investment company Affinity Partners. The main sources of funding are funds from Middle Eastern countries, with which he actively interacted while working in the White House. His fortune grew sharply, and Forbes included him in the list of billionaires.
This is where the wave of criticism began. Opponents spoke of a potential conflict of interest. Kushner rejected these accusations, and the White House press secretary called such attacks “truly disgusting.” For Trump, this noise was not an obstacle — he again involved his son-in-law in key issues.
“We called Jared back,” Trump said in the Knesset on October 13, the day the last group of Hamas hostages was released. According to him, the agreement was made possible thanks to Kushner’s participation.
“We need his mind. We will call him here.”
The White House emphasizes that Kushner does not hold an official position. He works as an informal and unpaid advisor, providing, in the administration’s wording, “valuable experience.”
Family, background, context
Kushner grew up in a family of developers in New Jersey, in a modern Orthodox Jewish home. His father, Charles Kushner, made a career in real estate but was convicted in 2005 for witness tampering and tax crimes. In 2020, he received a pardon from Trump and was later appointed as the U.S. ambassador to France.
His marriage to Ivanka Trump in 2009 was another symbolic step. She converted to Judaism for the wedding. On social media, Ivanka regularly shares elements of Jewish family life and has often emphasized observing the Sabbath.
Projects that define reputation
At the beginning of Trump’s first administration, Kushner was often perceived as a figure without sufficient experience. But his participation in the Abraham Accords changed this image. He established working channels with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other regional players — contacts that proved to be long-term.
When Trump, in his second term, again sought ways to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, Kushner was once again at the center of the process. His participation in negotiations between Israel and Hamas contributed to the release of hostages. After a successful round of negotiations in Tel Aviv, he publicly spoke about the priority of Israel’s security and the need for regional stability.
Investments, media, and the next round of questions
This week, attention to Kushner increased even more. His fund, Affinity Partners, joined a consortium of investors supporting Paramount’s attempt to acquire Warner Bros. The political subtext is obvious: Trump has already made it clear that he will closely monitor any decisions that may affect CNN.
Additional pressure is created by the fact that among Affinity’s investors are structures from Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Senate has begun an investigation to determine whether the fund is being used as a tool of foreign influence ahead of the 2024 elections.
Kushner did not comment on the deal with Paramount. Previously, he called his international connections “trust-based” and emphasized that they are based on professional experience, not political obligations.
His return shows how in American politics, the line between business, diplomacy, and personal connections is once again blurring. And it is precisely such stories that readers of NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency are closely following today.
