Jared Kushner on Conflicts of Interest
TL;DR
Jared Kushner retained significant financial interests while serving in government, which critics argued created conflicts of interest.
Key Points
He failed to disclose all required financial information, including owing $1 billion in loans, in initial security clearance applications in 2017.
He reportedly used WhatsApp for official White House business, raising cybersecurity and ethics concerns about communications with foreign government contacts.
His investment firm, Affinity Partners, received a $2 billion investment from the Saudi public investment fund six months after he left his government post in 2021.
Summary
Jared Kushner's time as a Senior Advisor in the first Trump administration was marked by ongoing scrutiny regarding conflicts of interest stemming from his extensive, ongoing business and real estate holdings. Rather than fully selling off his assets or placing them in a completely independent blind trust managed by a third party, he transferred ownership of some interests to his brother and a trust overseen by his mother, retaining a significant portion of his financial stake. Ethics watchdogs pointed to this structure as insufficient for preventing both actual conflicts and the appearance of self-dealing, citing instances like meetings with foreign officials shortly before family companies secured related financing.
Concerns continued after his White House service, particularly when his new investment firm, Affinity Partners, secured a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund only months after he left office. This post-government activity fueled accusations that his previous diplomatic efforts, particularly in the Middle East, may have been designed to benefit his future financial prospects. While he rejected suggestions of ethical breaches, stating that critics conflate experience with conflict, regulatory scrutiny from congressional committees regarding these financial arrangements has persisted.
Key Quotes
What people call conflicts of interest, Steve and I call experience and trusted relationships
No one is 'giving' me deals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jared Kushner generally rejected accusations of ethical breaches concerning his financial dealings while serving as a White House advisor. He characterized the attention on his business arrangements as conflating his professional experience and trusted relationships with any actual conflict of interest.
When appointed as Senior Advisor, Jared Kushner resigned as CEO of his family firm and partially divested assets. However, he transferred some assets to family members rather than selling them off to an independent third party, which drew criticism.
Concerns arose from his family's business securing trademarks in China the same day his wife met with Chinese officials, and later from his private firm obtaining a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia after he brokered diplomatic ties with the kingdom.
Sources7
Wyden Continues Investigation Into Kushner Conflicts of Interest, Influence on U.S. Foreign Policy
CREW Statement on Jared Kushner’s Role as Special Peace Envoy
Jared Kushner’s Conflicts of Interest Reach a Crisis Point
Jared Kushner's Security Clearance Woes Aren't Just a Punchline
Jared Kushner's unofficial role in Trump administration sparks ethical questions
Newsweek - Jared Kushner's New Foreign Deals Spark 'Corruption' Accusation
Jared Kushner - Wikipedia
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.