Report: Kushner Tied to Foreign Accounts Used by Gulf Powers
Vanity Fair reported on a forthcoming book by Matthew Cole that alleges Jared Kushner supervised accounts funded and controlled by Gulf leaders. According to the account, Dutch intelligence accessed Kushner’s phone during the first Trump administration and learned he was a signatory on a First Dubai Bank account linked to a UAE charity; Saudi and Emirati transfers reportedly totaled about $750 million. Kushner’s lawyer denied that he knew about the charity or account and said he made no unauthorized arrangements with foreign officials.
Vanity Fair’s account, attributed to Matthew Cole’s forthcoming book, says Dutch defense intelligence accessed Kushner’s iPhone during the first Trump administration. It reports he was a signatory on a First Dubai Bank account owned by the Watani Al Emarat Foundation, a government-funded charity led by a close associate of the UAE president; Saudi and Emirati transfers reportedly reached about $750 million from 2017.
Four senior Trump officials told Cole they were unaware of any presidential authorization for Kushner to access a foreign government account. Kushner’s lawyer denied he knew of the charity or account and said he made no unauthorized arrangements with foreign officials.
The allegations could intensify public scrutiny of how senior officials’ foreign financial ties are disclosed and overseen. They may affect trust in government ethics, complicate diplomatic relationships with Gulf partners, and shape how media and watchdogs assess future appointments. Investors and institutions linked to named funds could face reputational questions, while legal experts may debate disclosure rules and enforcement. The reported denials mean the claims remain contested and could be tested in courts, congressional oversight, or public debate.