Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

MBS forced Investment Fund to give Kushner $2B: NYT

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: The New York Times
  • 11 Apr 2022 12:42
  • 8 Shares
4 Min Read

The Saudi Public Investment Fund approves a $2 billion investment for Jared Kushner despite his "little experience" in private equity.

  • x
  • Jared Kushner and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman
    Jared Kushner and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) secured a $2 billion investment for former US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in spite of objections and doubts from the fund's advisers, The New York Times reported.

According to the newspaper, previously undisclosed documents reveal that "A panel that screens investments for the main Saudi sovereign wealth fund cited concerns about the proposed deal with Mr. Kushner’s newly formed private equity firm, Affinity Partners."

The panel's meeting minutes last June 30 indicated that the advisers' concerns included “the inexperience of the Affinity Fund management,” the possibility that Saudi Arabia would be responsible for “the bulk of the investment and risk," the firm’s "unsatisfactory" operations, an "excessive" proposed asset management fee,” and “public relations risks” from Kushner’s prior role as a former senior Trump adviser, the Times pointed out.

Nevertheless, the PIF's full board led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman overruled the panel.

"Ethics experts say that such a deal creates the appearance of potential payback for Mr. Kushner’s actions in the White House — or of a bid for future favor if Mr. Trump seeks and wins another presidential term in 2024," the New York Times mentioned.

Saudi fund allegedly "operates autonomously"

It is noteworthy that Kushner defended bin Salman following US investigations that accused the Crown Prince of approving the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

The New York Times highlighted that the PIF agreed to invest twice as much with Kushner than it did with former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin who was seeking a new fund.

The documents show that, unlike Kushner, Mnuchin was already a successful investor before being appointed as a secretary.

Related News

Cholera devastates Darfur region amid conflict, US aid cuts

US uses tariffs to strongarm India on Russia ties

"In its most recent public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated March 31, Mr. Kushner’s firm reported that its main fund had $2.5 billion under management, almost entirely from investors based overseas. Most of that appears to be the $2 billion from Saudi Arabia," the Times underscored

In return for its investment, the PIF would receive a stake of at least 28% in Kushner’s main investments, the documents showed.

The Saudi fund allegedly "operates autonomously", however, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is its topmost decision-maker.

A huge defender of bin Salman

According to the Times, Kusher "has little experience or track record in private equity. Before working in the White House, he ran his family’s commercial real estate empire, sometimes with disappointing results."

"His best-known deal was the $1.8 billion purchase of the office tower at 666 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, in 2007; the building’s mortgage became a crippling liability when the recession hit the next year," the newspaper noted.

While in office, Kushner helped mediate the so-called "Abraham Accords" that normalized ties between some Arab states and "Israel", and continued his efforts even after leaving the White House.

The Times said Trump's son-in-law also "helped broker $110 billion in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia over 10 years," and protected the Saudi regime from congressional outrage over the murder of Khashoggi and the war on Yemen.

According to the documents, a Saudi staff wrote that Kushner was hoping to avoid media attention, and that's the reason he approached the PIF instead of US investors.

Kushner's proposal approved after raised to bin Salman

The board committee evaluating Kushner’s proposal referred to it as "Project Astro". 

"The Affinity principal would like to avoid media attention at this time. Accordingly, Affinity has approached international institutional investors on a very discreet basis (especially PIF as Affinity’s cornerstone LP) to anchor the launch of their inaugural fund," the document read.

The four-panel members “stated that they are not in favor of Project Astro,” the documents showed. Following that, the panel’s chairperson Yasir Al-Rumayyan -chairman of Saudi Aramco - suggested raising the panel's decision to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Fews days later, the board approved the deal.

  • United States
  • Washington
  • Israel
  • US
  • Mohammad Bin Salman
  • Jamal Khashoggi
  • Yemen
  • Public Investment Fund
  • Steven Mnuchin
  • Aramco
  • Abraham Accords
  • Donald Trump
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Jared Kushner
  • white house

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS