Is Kushner Companies Taking Advantage of Its Connection to the President?

It’s difficult to overstate just how unusual Jared Kushner’s role in the American government is. Since becoming a senior adviser to his father-in-law, President Donald Trump, the 36-year-old has—despite having no prior government experience—been put in charge of an ever-expanding policy portfolio, ranging from restructuring the federal government to resolving the conflicts between Israel and Palestine to acting as the liaison between the administration and the Chinese government.

As with many members of Trump’s inner circle, Kushner oversees another portfolio, too. Just like his father-in-law, Kushner first rose to prominence as the heir to an international real-estate empire—and, just as the president’s insufficient efforts to distance himself from the Trump Organization has generated a long list of conflicts of interest, ethics experts have expressed concern that Kushner’s ongoing relationship with his own family’s business will undermine his ability to carry out his duties.