On the first day of President Donald Trump’s second term, a key player from his first administration quietly stepped back from daily duties to focus on his private business. Nearly a year into the new administration, Jared Kushner has re-entered the foreign-policy arena, partnering with special envoy Steve Witkoff in a renewed effort to broker peace deals.
Kushner’s Re-Entry
For the first half of the year, Kushner stayed out of the spotlight even as he pushed to place former Abraham Accords associates in influential roles. He told Trump and others that while he would not join the White House, he was ready to offer counsel if desired. That informal sounding-board role continued until Trump’s peacemaking initiatives, particularly the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, stalled.
Trump’s attempt to forge a Gaza agreement faltered over the summer, prompting Kushner to return. “We always bring Jared when we want to get that deal closed,” Trump said to Israel’s parliament shortly after the 20-point plan was agreed in late September.
Miami Diplomacy Blitz
The shift was on full display this weekend as Kushner and Witkoff engaged in a rapid series of talks in Miami. On Sunday, they concluded two days of negotiations with Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev on the latest proposals to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Friday’s meetings began with Ukrainian officials led by Rustem Umerov, followed by senior British, French and German national-security officials. The European delegation remained in Florida for further talks with U.S. government officials facilitated by Trump’s envoys.
Kushner and Witkoff also squeezed in meetings with Turkish and Qatari officials to discuss the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas as they worked to implement the second phase of Trump’s ceasefire plan.
Style Contrast and Credibility
Witkoff, a longtime friend of Trump’s, is seen by some insiders as an oversized character who travels worldwide on his private jet and publicly praises the president’s foreign-policy acumen. Kushner, meanwhile, has a transactional outlook to diplomacy that has concerned some European officials.
“Kushner has a bit more of a track record from the first administration,” said Ian Kelly, a retired career diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to Georgia who now teaches diplomacy at Northwestern University. Kelly added that the jury is still out on Kushner’s intervention.
Many Ukrainian and European officials view Witkoff as overly deferential to Russian interests. “He misunderstands what they say and reports the misunderstandings back to Washington and the Europeans,” Kelly said.
Trump regards Kushner as a “trusted family member and talented adviser.” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said, “Trump and Witkoff often seek Mr. Kushner’s input given his experience with complex negotiations, and Mr. Kushner has been generous in lending his valuable expertise when asked.”
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott called Kushner “a world-class negotiator.” Pigott noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is grateful for Kushner’s willingness to serve our country and help President Trump solve some of the world’s most complex challenges.
Business Ties and Legal Compliance
Both men face scrutiny over business ties to Gulf nations. Witkoff partnered last year with Trump family members to launch a cryptocurrency company, World Liberty Financial, which received a $2 billion investment from a United Arab Emirates-controlled wealth fund.
Kushner manages billions of dollars in investments, including from Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s sovereign-wealth funds through his firm, Affinity Partners. Some Democrats and oversight groups question his role while he manages these assets.
“What people call conflicts of interests, Steve and I call experience and trusted relationships that we have throughout the world,” Kushner said. He is not drawing a salary from the White House for his advisory role.
White House counsel David Warrington said in a statement that Kushner’s efforts for Trump “are undertaken in full compliance with the law.” Warrington added, “Given that Jared Kushner was a critical part of the efforts leading to the historic Abraham Accords and other diplomatic successes in the first Trump Administration, the President asked Mr. Kushner to be available as the President engages in similar efforts to bring peace to the world.”
Key Takeaways
- Jared Kushner has re-entered the foreign-policy arena, partnering with Steve Witkoff in Miami to advance Ukraine, Russia and Gaza negotiations.
- Trump views Kushner as a trusted adviser, while some officials see Witkoff as overly deferential to Russian interests.
- Both men face scrutiny over Gulf-nation business ties, but legal compliance has been affirmed by White House counsel.
The renewed collaboration signals that Trump’s inner circle believes Kushner’s diplomatic experience complements Witkoff’s style, offering a blend of credibility and business-savvy negotiation that may prove decisive in closing complex international deals.
