“‘He Will Help on Things Like the Middle East if Asked’: Jared Kushner Advising Trump’s Incoming Team from Behind the Scenes, but Won’t Take Official Role

Jared Kushner is quietly working behind the scenes to offer guidance and advice to Donald Trump’s incoming administration, but he is not expected to take on an official role, according to new reports. NBC News revealed on Wednesday that Trump’s children, including Kushner, are “notable absences” from his new team, but the former senior adviser is still playing a key role in shaping the administration’s direction.

Kushner, who served as a senior adviser during Trump’s first term, continues to stay involved by providing input and suggestions from behind the scenes. According to the report, Kushner receives regular calls from incoming members of Trump’s team seeking his advice on various issues. Trump himself also reaches out periodically for Kushner’s opinion on potential hires.

One particular area where Kushner has been involved is the Middle East. He has been working with Steven Witkoff, whom Trump appointed as special envoy to the Middle East, to help him “get up to speed” on the region’s complex dynamics. A former official noted that Kushner’s aim is to be “the friend and adviser” to Trump’s new team, offering the kind of support he wished he had when he first joined the White House in 2017.

Although Kushner has been consulted on various appointments, including advocating for private equity executive Marc Rowan as Treasury Secretary (Trump ultimately chose Scott Bessent), sources suggest that he is focused on his business ventures and family life. “He is going to run his business and continue to build his family,” one source said. “He will, I think, help on things like the Middle East if asked, but he had such a trying experience last time [that] I don’t think he’s interested.”

Despite his behind-the-scenes involvement, the report clarifies that Kushner’s decision to stay out of the official government spotlight is not due to “bad blood.” Instead, he plans to focus on other pursuits while offering advice where needed, especially on issues he’s familiar with, like Middle Eastern diplomacy.