New Book Accuses Jared Kushner of Financial Gain from Middle East Diplomacy

A new book published in the United States alleges that Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, leveraged his position to forge financial benefits through connections with leaders in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. According to a report in The New York Times, investigative journalist Matthew Cole claims in his book, 'Princes and Thieves,' that Kushner collaborated with the UAE to shape American policy in the Middle East. During this period, Kushner allegedly gained access to bank accounts holding approximately $2 billion.

The accusations, based on anonymous sources, have been vehemently denied by Kushner, who declined to be interviewed. His lawyer called Cole's allegations "insane, false, and defamatory" and threatened legal action against Vanity Fair, which published excerpts of the book. Cole, who spent five years researching the book, stated that much remains unknown about Kushner's relationships and agreements with leaders in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and particularly the UAE.

The book's central claim focuses on Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ), the Ruler of the Emirates, who allegedly spent heavily to influence U.S. policy. Following the 2016 election, MBZ reportedly identified Kushner as a key to gaining easy access to the President. This gamble paid off when Trump appointed Kushner as a senior advisor, despite his lack of diplomatic experience. While Kushner facilitated the Abraham Accords, the book contends he also advanced private agendas, allowing U.S. foreign policy to be dictated to some extent by a foreign nation.

It is alleged that Kushner's family greatly benefited from the perception that he was acting on behalf of MBZ. For instance, Qatar, a regional rival of the UAE, which was under blockade by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, sought to balance this influence. A fund through which Qatar invests some of its sovereign wealth reportedly helped the Kushner family out of a failed $1.8 billion investment in a New York skyscraper.

One of the most explosive claims is that Kushner had access to a UAE bank account holding $750 million, allegedly laundered through Azerbaijan but originating from the UAE and Saudi governments, according to Cole. The book questions whether Trump was aware of or approved this arrangement. Cole further alleges that by 2018, MBZ had transferred approximately $1 billion to another account managed at the Bank of Israel for Kushner. While it remains unclear if or how Kushner used these funds, one source suggested they were intended for his general benefit. The book posits that the first bank account was a secret fund used to finance operations in Libya and elsewhere by Eric Prince, former CEO of the private military contractor Blackwater, implying Kushner may have helped manage proxy wars for a foreign government. If Kushner used funds from the second account for personal gain, he may have acted as an undeclared agent of a foreign power.