Jared Kushner declines role in potential future Trump administration
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The president-elect's son-in-law, a controversial figure in the previous administration, might take on the role of an external adviser this time around.
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Then-senior adviser to the president Jared Kushner, attending a press conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 4, 2020. (AFP)
Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, will not return to the White House in the upcoming administration but may still advise on Middle East policy, The Financial Times reported citing sources familiar with the situation.
Kushner, who served as a senior adviser during Trump's previous term, was instrumental in brokering the normalization deals between "Israel" and several Arab nations (UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco).
The next Trump administration, as per the report, is expected to focus on expanding the number of Arab states that establish diplomatic ties with "Israel", with Saudi Arabia being the "ultimate prize."
Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, were key figures in the former president's administration and have since been residing in Miami. In 2021, Kushner launched a $3 billion investment firm, Affinity Partners, which is largely backed by overseas investors, including substantial contributions from Gulf sovereign wealth funds.
Senate probes Kushner's foreign deals as he eyes advisory role in next Trump administration
The Senate Finance Committee has been investigating Kushner's company and its fees charged to foreign clients. In a letter from September, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden expressed concerns that Kushner's fundraising and real estate ventures "give foreign governments leverage over the Trump family."
Kushner has denied any allegations of conflicts of interest, stating that his company follows "all relevant regulations." Trump allies expect Kushner to have an advisory role in the next administration's Middle East policy, though this may depend on the final composition of the team.
Kushner has maintained strong connections with senior officials in both the Gulf and "Israel", according to the Financial Times. Trump's transition team is reportedly seeking a senior national security official to oversee Middle East issues, potentially with Kushner’s input.
Top contenders for key national security roles in the next Trump Administration Revealed
Two individuals being considered for key roles in the next administration are former National Security Council official Victoria Coates and retired Major General Miguel Correa, who worked with Jared Kushner on the normalization deals and previously served as the US defense attaché in Abu Dhabi, according to a source familiar with the matter as reported by FT.
The transition team, as per the report, is also putting together shortlists for top national security positions. Richard Grenell, Trump’s former ambassador to Germany, is reportedly a contender for secretary of state or national security advisor. Senator Bill Hagerty, former ambassador to Japan, and Robert O’Brien, who served as national security advisor, are also in the running.
Brian Hook, the former envoy on Iran during the Trump administration, is leading the transition at the State Department, the report added as per sources. Additionally, Kash Patel, a controversial former senior defense official, is expected to take on a top national security role. Congressman Mike Waltz and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are among the leading candidates to head the Pentagon.
In Trump's previous administration, Kushner played a central role in shaping the "Middle East peace plan", which was criticized for being heavily skewed toward Israeli demands and failing to meet Palestinian aspirations for statehood. It was strongly rejected by Palestinian leaders.
Brian Hook, who also played a role in the normalization deals, praised Jared Kushner's work on the "peace plan", calling it "important" during a CNN interview on Thursday. He stated, “If you look at the plan that Jared put forward during the first term, that has all of the elements” that Saudi officials have requested, including a path to a Palestinian state.
Hook further expressed confidence, saying, “I’m confident that that sort of thinking and working with the Palestinians and the Israelis, as much as circumstances will allow, are going to do a lot.”
Read next: Will Trump’s 2nd term bring change to the US' Middle East strategy?
