President Trump’s son–in–law, Jared Kushner, might not hold a formal title in the second administration but he’s still been quietly tasked with a high–stakes assignment.

Behind closed doors and far from the West Wing, Kushner is once again shaping American Middle East policy, championing quiet talks and crafting a post-ceasefire strategy for Gaza. 

Officially, he’s out of the administration. Unofficially, insiders tell Daily Mail, Kushner never really left—working behind the curtain to help with negotiations and draft a plan for breaking the intractable Israel-Gaza impasse that has shadowed Trump’s presidency.

‘It’s called the ‘day–after’ plan for the War in Gaza. He’s working on it with the former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair. Nobody really knows yet what that looks like. Just that their proposal reportedly excludes Hamas and the Palestinian Authority and focuses on finding a different governing body for the region,’ a source familiar with current Middle-East negotiations told Daily Mail. 

Kushner’s expanding role in Middle East affairs was on display last week as joined White House envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami for a meeting with Ron Dermer, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Witkoff-Kushner alliance has been attracting eyeballs, especially after they were spotted together with the president during the U.S. Open tennis final. 

‘Jared is Jared,’ said one source close to both Kushner and Witkoff, when asked what Kushner is working on as of late. The phrase was short on details, but not without meaning.

Behind closed doors and far from the West Wing, Kusher is once again shaping the landscape of American policy in the Middle East, championing quiet talks and crafting a strategy for what comes after a possible ceasefire in Gaza –– working alongside Steve Witkoff 

‘It’s a well–known fact in this administration that real influence comes from being close to the president. Oftentimes, that will take precedent over others’ formal role in the president’s cabinet,’ the source close to the president told Daily Mail

Witkoff and Kushner have been getting even closer lately – spotted spending more time together with the president during the U.S. Open tennis final

John Hannah, senior fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, says Kushner would bring ‘enormous advantages’ to developing a postwar strategy, highlighting his ability to gain buy-in from key stakeholders and the unique authority he is seen to have in Middle East discussions as Trump’s closest representative.

Hannah notes that only Witkoff comes close to Kushner’s level of influence, but Kushner’s four years of immersion in Middle East issues during Trump’s first term give him significant negotiating power. 

Most importantly, Hannah adds, Kushner ‘would be seen by everyone as speaking with unrivaled authority on behalf of the president’—the most valuable asset any U.S. envoy can possess in talks with regional leaders.

Kushner, 43, previously served as Trump’s senior adviser for the Middle East during his first term, playing a key role in negotiating the Abraham Accords. 

‘Nothing in my life has gone according to plan,’ he told Axios last year, reflecting on the path that ultimately brought him back into high–stakes diplomacy.

The financials of the Trump and Witkoff families, along with Jared Kushner, have sparked questions surrounding possible conflicts of interest, with increasing scrutiny over the intersection of business and politics

Kushner, a business tycoon in his own capacity, also works with the Gulf’s financial elite, forging deep connections in the region during the first administration, both with leaders in Qatar and Israel. The source close to Kushner says that has helped him in both the corporate world and statecraft

A source close to Middle East diplomacy tells Daily Mail, ‘He never went away.’

Kushner’s ties to the Witkoff family—partners with him in cryptocurrency firm World Liberty Financial—have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, highlighting the overlap of business and politics.

A former adviser notes that Kushner’s deep connections with Gulf financiers and leaders in Qatar and Israel, forged during his first term, have strengthened both his corporate and diplomatic influence. He is reportedly the largest investor in Israeli financial group Phoenix Holdings, which specializes in insurance and asset management.

According to recent report from Forbes, big-deals with Phoenix Holdings as well as high-rolling Middle Eastern backers have just initiated Kushner into the billionaire club. They estimate his worth at just over $1 billion, up from about $900 million one year ago.

Against this backdrop, reactivating their footprint in the Middle East,Trump’s circle has begun re–engaging in the region. His envoy, Witkoff, recently sent a draft ceasefire proposal to Hamas, signaling renewed high–level involvement in the Middle East conflict.

Against this backdrop of deepening financial ties and regional influence, Trump’s circle has also begun re–engaging diplomatically in the conflict: his envoy to the Middle East, Steven Witkoff, recently sent a draft ceasefire proposal to Hamas

The Daily Mail reached out to the White House for more information on Kushner’s role, and was asked to contact Affinity Partners, Kushner’s investment firm based in Miami

Witkoff sent Hamas a draft ceasefire proposal that would swap all 48 remaining hostages – less than half of them alive – for peace and an end to Israel’s military occupation in Gaza. 

‘It’s a well-known fact in this administration that real influence comes from being close to the president. Kushner wants to be involved, and Trump is letting him,’ a source close to the president told Daily Mail.

However, even with all his talent and connections, Kushner is still embarking on a goal that’s eluded many before him – and doing it part-time. 

‘The main drawback of being an outsider working part-time while attending to a day job is not having enough time for such a complicated mission,’ the expert explains, noting the need for full-time support staff.