Kushner Issues Detailed Rebuttal to New Yorker 'Dollar Diplomacy' Story

Jared Kushner, former special envoy for the Trump administration, has released a comprehensive "fact check" addressing allegations detailed in a New Yorker article that linked his diplomatic work to the financial interests of his private equity firm, Affinity Partners. Kushner stated his decision to speak out after years of silence was prompted by the repeated nature of the claims, saying, "I decided to put the facts out there and let people judge for themselves."

In a post on his personal website on October 8, Kushner criticized The New Yorker for what he described as a failure to correct its narrative, despite the magazine's rigorous fact-checking process. He specifically addressed accusations that he was raising $5 billion for his fund while simultaneously negotiating on behalf of the Trump administration in the Middle East, which would suggest a significant conflict of interest.

Kushner asserted that discussions about additional fundraising ceased the moment his diplomatic role began. "Preliminary conversations about a possible future fund are not the same thing as raising a fund, yet the article stated that I was ‘discreetly raising another five billion dollars’ while engaged in talks with Iran," he stated. "That sentence was beyond misleading. While I have been volunteering for the government, Affinity has not raised additional capital."

He further declared, "I have never taken a diplomatic action to benefit Affinity, myself, or any investor." Kushner attributed his motivation for re-engaging in international diplomacy to his upbringing and observations of turmoil in the Middle East, stating, "I was raised to believe that if you want the world to be better, don’t just complain about it: Go try to do something about it."

Democrats in Congress, including House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, have previously raised concerns about Kushner's business activities. Following his time in the White House, Kushner secured over $2 billion in investments from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and similar funds from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Raskin has alleged that Affinity has since accrued billions more, with assets under management exceeding $6 billion, characterizing this as a "glaring and incurable conflict of interest" should former President Trump return to office.

Kushner countered these claims by noting that the Public Investment Fund's (PIF) investment in Affinity occurred after he left government and years before any potential return to politics. He also stated that his investment decisions are made in consultation with private ethics counsel and, when he returned to government service, with the White House Counsel's Office. He emphasized that he does not receive a salary for his government work and covers his own expenses, reiterating his proud volunteer status, as he did during his first term in the White House.

Kushner also addressed accusations related to the purchase of an Albanian island for a resort development and his firm's investment in an Israeli financial services company. He refuted the notion that he is both an unskilled investor and the leader of a firm achieving significant returns, citing his extensive experience in real estate and business prior to his government service.

He defended his diplomatic approach as "intentionally unconventional," pointing to the Abraham Accords, trade agreements with Canada, Mexico, and China, as well as efforts to secure the return of hostages from Gaza and reach a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel as tangible results.

Kushner concluded by highlighting his qualifications, noting his honors degree from Harvard University, his JD and MBA from NYU, and his extensive business career, arguing that his nearly 20 years of experience provide a substantial record for evaluation. He acknowledged the difficulty of the diplomatic challenges he has undertaken but stated that the potential to end wars and save lives makes the effort worthwhile.