Overview
- Bloomberg reported that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates put large sums into Jared Kushner’s firm, Affinity Partners, and agreed to pay tens of millions in annual fees to seek White House access and investment returns.
- The U.S. went to war with Iran under President Trump despite those states’ objections, which highlighted the limits of paying for access to shape policy.
- Officials and wealth fund managers in Riyadh and Doha voiced disappointment after retaliatory strikes in the Gulf killed and injured civilians and damaged infrastructure, adding to their sense of buyer’s remorse.
- Kushner has continued informal diplomacy while taking part in Affinity investment meetings, and he and the White House say his volunteer peacemaking is separate from his private business.
- A House inquiry led by Rep. Jamie Raskin is pursuing Kushner’s records and investor communications to probe possible conflicts or foreign influence, and Affinity says it has followed the law.