Portrait of Jared Kushner
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Jared Kushner on Kanye West

Past close associate (moderate)

TL;DR

Jared Kushner maintained a close, direct line of communication with Kanye West, particularly during the 2020 election cycle.

Key Points

  • He confirmed meeting with the rapper at the White House in October 2018.

  • In 2020, he reportedly floated an idea to host the rapper for a service on the South Lawn.

  • The rapper later accused the former advisor of brokering the Abraham Accords solely to generate profit.

Summary

Jared Kushner, the former advisor and son-in-law to the president, engaged in close discussions with Kanye West, which were reportedly almost daily around August 2020. These interactions included Kushner floating an idea for the rapper to lead a "healing church service" on the South Lawn in response to nationwide protests following a high-profile police killing in May 2020. The former advisor's suggestion was reportedly shut down by the White House chief of staff at the time, who believed the rapper was unpopular with the president's base.

However, the relationship appeared to sour, as the rapper later claimed that Kushner only brokered the Abraham Accords peace agreements in order to make money, suggesting the former advisor and his brother were merely acting as "handlers" who held the president back. The rapper also alleged that the former president's son-in-law was "born into money" and not serving the president effectively, contrasting sharply with the earlier period of close contact and shared political discussions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jared Kushner had a close, direct line of communication with Kanye West, especially during the 2020 election cycle, with reports indicating they spoke almost daily at one point. The former advisor was reportedly trying to engage the rapper in White House events during that period. However, the rapper later publicly criticized Kushner, suggesting his political work was motivated by profit.

Yes, Jared Kushner suggested hosting Kanye West to lead a "healing church service" on the South Lawn in the summer of 2020. This idea reportedly occurred in reaction to the nationwide protests following the police killing of George Floyd. The proposal was allegedly rejected by the then-White House chief of staff.

The available information suggests a shift from a close working relationship to public criticism from the rapper's side, implying a strained relationship. While the former advisor's direct, public statements on the rapper are limited, the rapper's later accusations indicate a breakdown in their prior alignment. The last reported interaction involved the rapper leveling serious claims against the former advisor's motivations.