Births on January 10

Jared Kushner, American real estate investor and political figure

Jared Corey Kushner, born on January 10, 1981, is a prominent American businessman and investor whose career trajectory has been significantly shaped by both his entrepreneurial ventures and his influential role within the United States government. He gained widespread public attention when he served as a senior advisor to his father-in-law, Donald Trump, during his tenure as the 45th President of the United States. This appointment, unique due to family ties, placed him at the heart of White House decision-making and policy formulation.

Early Life and Business Ventures

Jared Kushner is the son of Charles Kushner, a notable real-estate developer. His early business career was accelerated by unforeseen circumstances. Following his father's conviction and incarceration in 2005 for charges including illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering, Jared Kushner, then in his mid-twenties, assumed leadership of the family's extensive real estate empire, Kushner Companies. This pivotal moment launched him into the demanding world of large-scale property management and development.

Beyond traditional real estate, Kushner expanded his business portfolio. In 2006, he acquired Observer Media, the publisher of the venerable New York Observer newspaper. As publisher, he oversaw its transformation, shifting its focus from a print-centric weekly to a digitally-driven news and culture platform, eventually selling a majority stake in 2017. Furthermore, he is a co-founder and part owner of Cadre, an innovative online real-estate investment platform launched in 2014. Cadre aims to democratize access to commercial real estate investments, leveraging technology to connect institutional and high-net-worth investors with exclusive opportunities, and was valued at over $800 million at one point.

Role in the Trump Administration

Kushner's involvement in national politics began significantly during the 2016 Trump presidential campaign. He played a crucial, albeit behind-the-scenes, role in developing and executing the campaign's digital media strategy. This included leveraging data analytics and micro-targeting to reach voters, a relatively new approach for a presidential campaign at the time.

In 2017, his appointment as a senior White House advisor immediately sparked intense debate and scrutiny. Critics raised significant concerns about nepotism, citing the federal anti-nepotism statute (5 U.S. Code § 3110), although the administration argued its applicability did not extend to White House staff roles. His continued engagement in extensive business dealings while serving in government also generated considerable controversy, with allegations of potential conflicts of interest. These concerns stemmed from the possibility of profiting from policy proposals he himself championed, such as investments in properties located in Opportunity Zones, or his company's ongoing financial negotiations with foreign entities.

A notable challenge during his early tenure was the protracted process of obtaining Top Secret security clearance. This delay, reportedly due to concerns from career intelligence officials regarding his business ties and foreign contacts, persisted until May 2018. It was widely reported that President Trump ultimately intervened to override objections from his own intelligence and legal teams, granting Kushner the necessary clearance, a move that drew further criticism regarding potential politicization of security protocols.

Key Policy Initiatives and Achievements

As a senior advisor, Jared Kushner became a key figure in several significant policy areas, demonstrating a wide-ranging portfolio that went beyond traditional presidential advisory roles:

• Criminal Justice Reform: Kushner was a principal advocate for the First Step Act, a landmark bipartisan criminal justice reform bill. Signed into law in 2018, this legislation aimed to reduce recidivism, reform sentencing guidelines for non-violent drug offenders, and provide opportunities for rehabilitation, marking a significant step in U.S. criminal justice policy.
• Middle East Peace Process: Kushner took on a central role in the Trump administration's efforts to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He authored the "Deal of the Century," a comprehensive peace plan announced in January 2020. This plan was largely viewed as highly favorable to Israel, proposing a framework for a Palestinian state with limited sovereignty and significant Israeli territorial gains, which led to its rejection by the Palestinian Authority and most Arab nations.
• Abraham Accords: Despite the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, Kushner was the primary architect and negotiator behind the groundbreaking Abraham Accords. Signed in 2020, these historic normalization agreements established full diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. This represented a profound shift in regional diplomacy, bypassing the traditional Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the sole prerequisite for Arab-Israeli peace, and earned Kushner multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize.
• COVID-19 Response: Kushner played an influential, albeit sometimes controversial, role in the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He advised the President early in the pandemic regarding the perceived overstatement of its threat by the media. He also led the administration's "Private Sector Supply Chain Task Force," aiming to streamline the procurement and distribution of critical medical supplies across the nation, though this effort faced criticism regarding its effectiveness and transparency.

Common Questions About Jared Kushner

What was Jared Kushner's primary role in the Trump administration?

Jared Kushner served as a Senior Advisor to President Donald Trump, handling a wide array of domestic and foreign policy initiatives, including criminal justice reform and Middle East peace efforts.

What are the Abraham Accords?

The Abraham Accords are a series of historic normalization agreements, primarily negotiated by Jared Kushner, that established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations (UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco) in 2020, marking a significant shift in Middle East diplomacy.

How did Jared Kushner become involved in real estate?

Jared Kushner took over the management of his family's real estate company, Kushner Companies, in 2005, after his father, Charles Kushner, faced legal issues and incarceration.

Was Jared Kushner involved in the 2016 Trump campaign?

Yes, Jared Kushner played a key role in the 2016 Trump presidential campaign, specifically in developing and executing its digital media strategy and leveraging data analytics.