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Who Is Jared Kushner?
Jared Kushner is an American businessman and political figure, best known as the son of real estate developer Charles Kushner and the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Kushner gained prominence by taking over the family real estate business following his father’s legal troubles and expanding into publishing with his acquisition of The New York Observer. In 2009, he married Ivanka Trump, and later became a key political advisor to Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. In January 2017, Kushner was appointed as a senior advisor to the president, playing a significant role in various policy initiatives and diplomatic efforts.
Early Life
Born on January 10, 1981, in Livingston, New Jersey, Jared Kushner grew up in a prominent family as one of four children of Charles Kushner, a real estate mogul and major political donor. Jared attended the Frisch School, a yeshiva high school in Paramus, New Jersey, before going on to graduate from Harvard University in 2003. His admission to Harvard was later scrutinized when reports surfaced suggesting that his father’s substantial donation to the university influenced his acceptance, an allegation denied by the Kushner family.
Throughout his career, Kushner has remained deeply involved in both business and politics, shaping his path as a significant figure in American public life.
Father’s Arrest and Early Career
In 2005, Charles Kushner, Jared Kushner’s father, pled guilty to several crimes, including tax evasion, witness tampering, and making illegal political donations. He was sentenced to two years in prison. Charles was prosecuted by then-U.S. attorney Chris Christie, who would later serve as governor of New Jersey and play a role in Donald Trump’s presidential advisory team. During his father’s imprisonment, Jared Kushner took over the family real estate business, maintaining a close connection with his father throughout the ordeal.
In 2006, at just 25, Jared purchased The New York Observer, becoming its publisher. A year later, he made headlines by acquiring a Manhattan office building at 666 Fifth Avenue for a then-record sum of $1.8 billion. In 2008, he was named CEO of Kushner Companies, solidifying his role as a key player in the family business.
Marriage to Ivanka Trump
After nearly two years of dating, Jared Kushner married Ivanka Trump, the daughter of Donald and Ivana Trump, in October 2009. The wedding took place in Bedminster, New Jersey. The couple has three children: Arabella, Joseph, and Theodore. In preparation for their marriage, Ivanka converted to Orthodox Judaism, aligning with Kushner’s faith.
Adviser to Donald Trump
Though Kushner came from a family with Democratic ties, he became a crucial adviser to Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. He worked on various aspects of the campaign, including merchandise, speechwriting, social media strategy, and the selection of Indiana Governor Mike Pence as Trump’s running mate.
Kushner faced controversy in 2016 when Trump tweeted a meme that originated from an alt-right message board, depicting Hillary Clinton alongside symbols that many interpreted as anti-Semitic. Kushner, through The New York Observer, defended his father-in-law, stating that Trump was not an anti-Semite and should not be blamed for the actions of supporters with extreme views.
Following Trump’s victory in the November 2016 election, Kushner played a pivotal role in the transition team. Speculation initially arose that Kushner would return to his private business ventures post-election, but it was later revealed that he had sought legal advice regarding joining the administration. This decision raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and nepotism within the executive branch, as the Kushner family’s net worth was estimated at $1.8 billion, largely from real estate holdings.
In January 2017, it was officially announced that Kushner would serve as a senior adviser to President Trump.
Father’s Arrest and Early Career
In 2005, Charles Kushner, Jared Kushner’s father, pled guilty to charges including tax evasion, witness tampering, and illegal political contributions. He was sentenced to two years in prison, prosecuted by then-U.S. attorney Chris Christie, who later became governor of New Jersey and a key figure in Donald Trump’s advisory team. During this time, Jared Kushner assumed control of the family’s real estate business, maintaining a close relationship with his father throughout the legal proceedings.
In 2006, at the age of 25, Jared purchased The New York Observer, becoming its publisher. A year later, he made headlines by acquiring a prominent Manhattan office building at 666 Fifth Avenue for a record-breaking $1.8 billion. By 2008, Jared was named CEO of Kushner Companies, solidifying his leadership role in the family business.
Marriage to Ivanka Trump
In October 2009, after nearly two years of dating, Jared Kushner married Ivanka Trump, daughter of Donald and Ivana Trump, in a ceremony held in Bedminster, New Jersey. The couple has three children: Arabella, Joseph, and Theodore. Prior to their marriage, Ivanka converted to Orthodox Judaism, aligning with Jared’s religious background.
Adviser to Donald Trump
Despite coming from a family with Democratic ties, Kushner became a key adviser to Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. He was instrumental in various areas, including merchandise, speechwriting, social media strategy, and the selection of Indiana Governor Mike Pence as Trump’s running mate.
Controversy arose in 2016 when Trump tweeted a meme widely interpreted as anti-Semitic, originating from an alt-right message board. Kushner, through The New York Observer, defended his father-in-law, asserting that Trump was not anti-Semitic and should not be blamed for the actions of extremists.
Following Trump’s 2016 election victory, Kushner played a crucial role on the transition team. Initially, there was speculation that he would return to private business, but later reports revealed that he sought legal advice on joining the administration. His decision to join as a senior adviser raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and nepotism, given his family’s $1.8 billion real estate fortune.
In January 2017, Kushner was officially appointed as a senior adviser to President Trump. When questions surfaced regarding his meetings with foreign officials, Kushner denied any improper conduct, stating, “I did not collude, nor do I know of anyone else in the campaign who colluded with any foreign government.”
Later in 2017, Kushner was drawn into Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia, as well as Senate Judiciary Committee inquiries regarding emails related to WikiLeaks and a Russian “backdoor overture.” Kushner faced additional scrutiny over financial disclosure omissions, though a White House spokesman dismissed related lawsuits as “frivolous.”
Intelligence and Security Issues
In January 2018, reports surfaced that U.S. counterintelligence officials had warned Kushner about potential influence efforts by Wendi Deng Murdoch, a Chinese-American businesswoman and former wife of Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch denied the claims. In February 2018, Kushner’s security clearance was downgraded from top-secret to secret, pending final approval.
Further complicating matters, The Washington Post reported that foreign officials from several countries, including China, Mexico, and Israel, had discussed ways to exploit Kushner’s business interests and relative inexperience. Nevertheless, Kushner continued to engage in high-level meetings, including one with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, and eventually regained his top-secret clearance, reportedly with President Trump’s assistance.
Questionable Housing Documents and Loans
In March 2018, the Kushner Companies faced allegations of filing false reports with New York City, allegedly understating the number of rent-regulated tenants in its buildings from 2013 to 2016. The company was accused of attempting to push out tenants to raise rents. The Kushner Companies responded, attributing the errors to third-party contractors and asserting that they took corrective action when needed.
Around the same time, The New York Times revealed that Citigroup had lent Kushner Companies $325 million following a meeting between Jared Kushner and Citigroup’s CEO at the White House, prompting scrutiny from lawmakers.
Coronavirus Response
In early 2020, amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump appointed Vice President Mike Pence to lead the administration’s task force, while also enlisting Kushner to oversee key aspects of the crisis response. Kushner played a role in areas such as expanding public testing access, bolstering the production of medical supplies, and guiding decision-making at federal agencies, including the FDA and CMS.