Jared Kushner
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Enigma In The White House – Jared Kushner
36 year old Jared Kushner used to be one real estate heir among the many that reside in New York City. But ever since his father in law, Donald Trump, became president of the United States, Kushner was thrust into the center of politics and world events. Jared Kushner is currently serving as a senior adviser in the new administration of Donald Trump and seems to have an endless number of portfolios, from government innovation to criminal justice reform to the Middle East.
Kushner’s newfound prominence has not been without troubles. He and his wife, Ivanka Trump have faced persistent allegations about their foreign business ties and potential conflicts of interest. Reporters have dug into the aggressive tactics that have been taken against low income renters by Jared Kushner’s real estate company. In addition, Kushner remains caught in the Russia inquiry. Reports surfaced in June that Jared Kushner met with a Kremlin affiliated attorney who promised dirt on Hillary Clinton. Now it has also been revealed that Kushner has used his private email accounts for his official government related business, an indiscretion for which he and the Trump campaign wanted to indict Clinton.
And Kushner hasn’t even been popular in the president’s own camp. The far right press has attacked Jared, with outlets like Breitbart claiming he leads a “globalist” faction within the White House.
It’s a dramatic change for Jared Kushner, the real estate scion, who grew up in a New Jersey Modern Jewish Orthodox family. Going to Harvard and then into his father’s real estate business, Kushner was once relegated to the narrow, privileged world of New York City commerce.
These days, Jared Kushner is facing even greater challenges. His father in law, President Trump, is expecting Kushner to make peace between Israelis and Palestinians. A tall task for anyone.
Whether you love or hate him, Jared Kushner might just be the most important Jewish person in America in 2017.
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