Challenges in the Life of Jared Kushner in a Detailed Timeline

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Jared Kushner. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Jared Kushner is an American businessman, investor, and former government official. As the son-in-law of Donald Trump, he served as a senior advisor during Trump's presidency from 2017 to 2021. His role included directing the Office of American Innovation. Kushner's involvement in politics stemmed from his family ties to Trump, leveraging his business background to advise on various policy initiatives.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2004: Father's Conviction

In 2004, Jared Kushner's father, Charles Kushner, pleaded guilty to eighteen felony counts of tax fraud, election violations, and witness tampering.

March 4, 2005: Father's Incarceration Begins

On March 4, 2005, Jared Kushner's father began his incarceration.

2005: Father's Conviction and Meeting Ivanka Trump

In 2005, Jared Kushner's father, Charles Kushner, was convicted of 18 criminal charges. Around 2005, Jared met Ivanka Trump.

2016: Christie Fired

In 2016, Chris Christie was fired from Donald Trump's election campaign team. Christie claimed that Jared Kushner was responsible for having him fired as revenge for sending his father to prison.

April 2017: Trump considers withdrawing from NAFTA

In April 2017, reports surfaced that Trump intended to withdraw from NAFTA. Kushner worked with counterparts in the Mexican and Canadian governments and convinced Trump to set aside these plans and instead enter into formal trade negotiations.

February 27, 2018: Kushner's Security Clearance Downgraded

On February 27, 2018, Jared Kushner's interim security clearance was downgraded to "secret" status, along with other White House staffers, due to the Rob Porter scandal and ongoing investigation by Robert Mueller.

February 28, 2019: Reports of Trump's Intervention

On February 28, 2019, it was reported that in May 2018 Donald Trump ordered John Kelly to grant Jared Kushner a top-secret clearance, documented in an internal memo. This was reportedly the first time a U.S. president had intervened in such a way.

October 2019: Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis

In October 2019, Jared Kushner was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent treatment during the first Trump administration.

March 11, 2020: Kushner helps write Trump's Oval Office address on coronavirus

On March 11, 2020, Kushner helped write the Oval Office address that President Trump gave to the nation on the coronavirus, along with Trump's advisor Stephen Miller. The address was "widely panned". In the address, Trump blamed Europeans and the Chinese for the virus, describing the virus as a "foreign virus".

March 30, 2020: Report on website for coronavirus testing

On March 30, 2020, The Atlantic reported that a website that Trump had said would help Americans to diagnose themselves and direct them to a nearby coronavirus testing site in a March 13 press conference had been a project between the government and Oscar Health, a company that Kushner had ties with. The website was quickly scrapped.

April 2020: Kushner defends administration's response to coronavirus pandemic

In April 2020, Kushner publicly defended the administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic. He said, "The notion of the federal stockpile is that it's supposed to be our stockpile. It's not supposed to be states' stockpiles that they then use."

April 2020: Ventilator shortage and Kushner's team struggles

In April 2020, the Department of Defense revealed a shortage of ventilators in the strategic national stockpile. Kushner described the administration's response to the coronavirus as "a great success story," despite the ongoing challenges. Kushner's team of volunteers struggled to procure PPE. No ventilators were produced from an $86 million contract advised by Kushner's team.

May 2020: Kushner claims coronavirus is under control

In May 2020, Kushner reportedly told those involved in the coronavirus response that the coronavirus was under control and that there would not be a second wave, despite the ongoing pandemic.

June 2020: Coronavirus cases surge in the US and conflicts of interest

By June 2020, coronavirus cases were surging in the United States. It was revealed that businesses owned by the Kushner family obtained coronavirus relief, which raised concerns with potential conflicts of interests due to Kushner's White House role.

August 2020: Kushner reiterates 'success story' claim during pandemic

In August 2020, when 170,000 had died from the coronavirus in the United States, Jared Kushner reiterated his claim from April 2020 that the administration's response had been a "success story."

April 2022: Affinity Partners' Limited Funding

In April 2022, it was reported that Jared Kushner's investment firm, Affinity Partners, primarily depended on Saudi money, having only $2.5 billion under its management at the time.

June 2, 2022: House Oversight Committee Investigation

On June 2, 2022, the House Oversight Committee opened an investigation into whether Jared Kushner traded on his government position to secure a deal with the Saudi government's Public Investment Fund (PIF) for his investment firm, Affinity Partners.

2023: Chris Christie Criticizes Kushner's Saudi Deal

In 2023, Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie criticized Jared Kushner and Donald Trump for Kushner's deal with Saudi Arabia, questioning why Kushner was sent to the Middle East and highlighting the $2 billion investment from the Saudis to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump after Kushner left office.

2024: Senate Investigation into Affinity Fund

As of 2024, Jared Kushner's fund, Affinity, had made $157 million in management fees since 2021. The fund is under Senate investigation for possible foreign influence buying ahead of the 2024 election.

2024: Concerns About Payments to Curry Favor with Trump

In 2024, it was suggested that payments to Kushner were meant to curry favor with Donald Trump's family should he retake the White House. The House Oversight Committee Chairman, Kentucky Republican James Comer, said he believes Kushner “crossed the line of ethics” by accepting the investment from Saudi Arabia.

February 28, 2026: US and Israel launch Operation Epic Fury against Iran

On February 28, 2026, following the collapse of nuclear negotiations, the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury.

March 2026: Lawmakers Seek Information on Kushner's Business Dealings

In March 2026, Representative Robert Garcia and Senator Ron Wyden sent letters to the White House seeking information on Jared Kushner’s business dealings in the Middle East, citing reports that Kushner's private equity firm was soliciting billions of dollars in investments from regional governments while he simultaneously served as a negotiator.