Following talks with US envoys in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday (Sep 6) warned that war with Russia appears likely to continue this winter. Although he suggested that there was a “positive assessment” of talks with US President Donald Trump’s negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Zelensky added that US and Ukrainian teams also discussed security and economic guarantees for Kyiv. This comes after Witkoff and Kushner marked their first visit to Kyiv. The meeting came a day after they held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.<h2>War to continue in winter?</h2>Speaking after the discussions with Witkoff and Kushner, Zelensky said he was hopeful that an agreement will be reached with the United States. He also said that Ukrainians were counting on support from European allies. He suggested that it “appeared” that the war will continue in the winter.Speaking after the discussions with Witkoff and Kushner, Zelensky said, “We very much hope that we will be able to reach agreements with our American partners, and we are counting on the support of our European partners – if the war continues in winter, and this is how it appears at the moment – but even so, the teams today have a positive assessment of our future prospects.”<h2>What Zelensky said on territorial issues</h2>The Ukrainian President said that the territorial issues between Kyiv and Moscow could only be resolved “at the level of leaders”. Zelensky has previously suggested talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly said Moscow intends to seize the rest of eastern Ukraine.“I want to stick to my view that such complex issues can only be resolved at the level of leaders,” he said.Following talks with Zelensky, Witkoff said that both Russia and Ukraine need to make “compromises” to end the war that has been going on for more than four years.&nbsp;“It’s going to take both sides to make some compromises and narrow the issues between them and we think we have the ingredients to get to that place,” Witkoff said.“It is very difficult but we are committed, we care and we hope all of that leads to a successful peaceful diplomatic resolution,” he added.<h2>Kyiv talks</h2>The talks took place alongside discussions involving British, French and German representatives. Zelensky welcomed the European presence, saying, “We are grateful that the Europeans are with us today and that we are in such a coalition of countries. Here we are all on the same side.”The American delegation arrived by train at Kyiv Central Station, where “Peace Express” was written on the platform. Zelensky said Ukraine had prepared its airports for the visit, but Russian strikes had made air travel impossible.A White House official said the envoys had discussed “substantive plans which will be announced in the coming weeks”. The Kremlin said the Americans had proposed ideas for a settlement, without providing details.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned the Russia-Ukraine war could continue through winter, while saying Kyiv had a positive assessment of peace prospects. He said territorial issues require leader-level talks.

Following talks with US envoys in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday (Sep 6) warned that war with Russia appears likely to continue this winter. Although he suggested that there was a “positive assessment” of talks with US President Donald Trump’s negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Zelensky added that US and Ukrainian teams also discussed security and economic guarantees for Kyiv. This comes after Witkoff and Kushner marked their first visit to Kyiv. The meeting came a day after they held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. War to continue in winter? Speaking after the discussions with Witkoff and Kushner, Zelensky said he was hopeful that an agreement will be reached with the United States. He also said that Ukrainians were counting on support from European allies. He suggested that it “appeared” that the war will continue in the winter. Speaking after the discussions with Witkoff and Kushner, Zelensky said, “We very much hope that we will be able to reach agreements with our American partners, and we are counting on the support of our European partners – if the war continues in winter, and this is how it appears at the moment – but even so, the teams today have a positive assessment of our future prospects.” What Zelensky said on territorial issues The Ukrainian President said that the territorial issues between Kyiv and Moscow could only be resolved “at the level of leaders”. Zelensky has previously suggested talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly said Moscow intends to seize the rest of eastern Ukraine. “I want to stick to my view that such complex issues can only be resolved at the level of leaders,” he said. Following talks with Zelensky, Witkoff said that both Russia and Ukraine need to make “compromises” to end the war that has been going on for more than four years. “It’s going to take both sides to make some compromises and narrow the issues between them and we think we have the ingredients to get to that place,” Witkoff said. “It is very difficult but we are committed, we care and we hope all of that leads to a successful peaceful diplomatic resolution,” he added. Kyiv talks The talks took place alongside discussions involving British, French and German representatives. Zelensky welcomed the European presence, saying, “We are grateful that the Europeans are with us today and that we are in such a coalition of countries. Here we are all on the same side.” The American delegation arrived by train at Kyiv Central Station, where “Peace Express” was written on the platform. Zelensky said Ukraine had prepared its airports for the visit, but Russian strikes had made air travel impossible. A White House official said the envoys had discussed “substantive plans which will be announced in the coming weeks”. The Kremlin said the Americans had proposed ideas for a settlement, without providing details.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned the Russia-Ukraine war could continue through winter, while saying Kyiv had a positive assessment of peace prospects. He said territorial issues require leader-level talks.

War to continue in winter? What Zelensky said on Russia-Ukriane conflict, territorial issue after talks with US envoys

US envoy Steve Witkoff and fellow emissary Jared Kushner held “important” talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday (Sep 6). The discussions aimed to revive Washington’s efforts to end the war with Russia. The meeting marked their first visit to Kyiv, a day after discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.“We've had a very meaningful discussion, substantive, important, and we are very encouraged and we look forward to continuing this as long as it takes,” Witkoff said after meeting Zelensky.Kushner said the delegation had learned from the trip and hoped it would help advance peace efforts. “Hopefully this trip has come out with some new ways to advance forward. I think we've learned a lot from the trip,” he said.<h2>European backing, no breakthrough</h2>The talks took place alongside discussions involving British, French and German representatives. Zelensky welcomed the European presence, saying, “We are grateful that the Europeans are with us today and that we are in such a coalition of countries. Here we are all on the same side.”The American delegation arrived by train at Kyiv Central Station, where “Peace Express” was written on the platform. Zelensky said Ukraine had prepared its airports for the visit, but Russian strikes had made air travel impossible.A White House official said the envoys had discussed “substantive plans which will be announced in the coming weeks”. The Kremlin said the Americans had proposed ideas for a settlement, without providing details.<h2>Doubts persist</h2>The visit came as fighting continued and hopes for a quick agreement remained limited. Putin has repeatedly said Moscow intends to seize the rest of eastern Ukraine, while Russia intensified attacks this summer.Ukraine’s air force reported 108 drones and missiles in an overnight attack, while Moscow said it had shot down 258 Ukrainian drones. Ukraine also said 10 people were killed in Russian strikes on Saturday (Sep 5).US President Donald Trump has said his envoys were bringing a “proposal” to end the fighting. “We have an idea for peace,” he said, without elaborating.While the talks offered a new opening, there were no clear signs that the war was nearing an end.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held “important” Kyiv talks with Zelensky after meeting Putin, seeking peace in Ukraine. No breakthrough was reported, but further plans are expected.

US envoy Steve Witkoff and fellow emissary Jared Kushner held “important” talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday (Sep 6). The discussions aimed to revive Washington’s efforts to end the war with Russia. The meeting marked their first visit to Kyiv, a day after discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. “We've had a very meaningful discussion, substantive, important, and we are very encouraged and we look forward to continuing this as long as it takes,” Witkoff said after meeting Zelensky. Kushner said the delegation had learned from the trip and hoped it would help advance peace efforts. “Hopefully this trip has come out with some new ways to advance forward. I think we've learned a lot from the trip,” he said. European backing, no breakthrough The talks took place alongside discussions involving British, French and German representatives. Zelensky welcomed the European presence, saying, “We are grateful that the Europeans are with us today and that we are in such a coalition of countries. Here we are all on the same side.” The American delegation arrived by train at Kyiv Central Station, where “Peace Express” was written on the platform. Zelensky said Ukraine had prepared its airports for the visit, but Russian strikes had made air travel impossible. A White House official said the envoys had discussed “substantive plans which will be announced in the coming weeks”. The Kremlin said the Americans had proposed ideas for a settlement, without providing details. Doubts persist The visit came as fighting continued and hopes for a quick agreement remained limited. Putin has repeatedly said Moscow intends to seize the rest of eastern Ukraine, while Russia intensified attacks this summer. Ukraine’s air force reported 108 drones and missiles in an overnight attack, while Moscow said it had shot down 258 Ukrainian drones. Ukraine also said 10 people were killed in Russian strikes on Saturday (Sep 5). US President Donald Trump has said his envoys were bringing a “proposal” to end the fighting. “We have an idea for peace,” he said, without elaborating. While the talks offered a new opening, there were no clear signs that the war was nearing an end.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held “important” Kyiv talks with Zelensky after meeting Putin, seeking peace in Ukraine. No breakthrough was reported, but further plans are expected.

‘Had a very meaningful discussion’: Witkoff, Kushner hold ‘important’ talks with Zelensky in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Kyiv on September 6 as Washington steps up efforts to revive peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

The meeting came shortly after Witkoff and Kushner held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for constructive discussions and stressed the need for security guarantees and a dignified, sustainable postwar peace.

The latest Kyiv talks are part of a renewed U.S. diplomatic push to end the more than four-year Russia-Ukraine war. European national security advisers have also arrived in Kyiv for discussions, adding a wider European dimension to the negotiations

Russia-Ukraine WAR | Zelensky Meets Trump Envoys Witkoff, Kushner In Kyiv For Peace Talks

Jared Kushner is reportedly set to engage with Gaza officials as discussions continue around US President Donald Trump's proposed Board of Peace initiative The development comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding Gaza, with regional actors closely watching Washington's plans for the territory's future governance, reconstruction and security. Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and a key figure in previous Middle East diplomacy, has remained involved in discussions surrounding the administration's regional strategy.
The reported talks come as negotiations involving Gaza, Israel, Hamas, Egypt and the United States continue to shape the wider diplomatic landscape.

Report: Kushner to Speak to Gaza Officials with Board of Peace  | WATCH 

Jared Kushner is reportedly set to engage with Gaza officials as discussions continue around US President Donald Trump's proposed Board of Peace initiative.

The development comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding Gaza, with regional actors closely watching Washington's plans for the territory's future governance, reconstruction and security.

Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and a key figure in previous Middle East diplomacy, has remained involved in discussions surrounding the administration's regional strategy.

The reported talks come as negotiations involving Gaza, Israel, Hamas, Egypt and the United States continue to shape the wider diplomatic landscape.

Report: Kushner to Speak to Gaza Officials with Board of Peace

A Hamas delegation held talks with the Egyptian Intelligence Chief in Cairo on Sunday, in an attempt to address Israeli violations and ensure implementation of an agreed roadmap in Gaza. The delegation is being led by Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya, and the meeting was held in the Egyptian city of El-Alamein. This comes just ahead of US President Donald Trump’s envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner talking with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi about the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire.The Hamas official says talks will cover “the latest developments in the negotiations and the efforts being made to compel Israel to abide by the agreement, which includes the 15-point roadmap, and to begin its implementation.”“The delegation will brief Egyptian officials on Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, and Hayya will emphasise the movement’s commitment and readiness to implement the agreement as soon as Israel announces its commitment to it.”The meeting between the US President's envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Mediterranean city of El-Alamein “emphasised the need for all parties to fulfil their obligations under the Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement” reached in October 2025, says spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy in a statement.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kfc-mangaluru-raid-spoiled-chicken-expired-oil-1786879521760">KFC Mangaluru outlet sealed after complaint of spoiled and foul-smelling chicken</a>According to AFP, a meeting is also being arranged between the Hamas negotiating delegation, the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, and US officials. This is likely to be held later in the week to discuss hurdles related to the agreement.&nbsp;"Mediators informed Hamas that US envoy Jared Kushner will hold a meeting with the Hamas leadership, in the presence of Egyptian and Qatari officials, before Kushner travels to Israel to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," said one of the Hamas sources, requesting anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomacy.Under the proposed US President Donald Trump's 15-point peace roadmap, Hamas previously indicated a readiness to hand over its weapons to a nascent technical committee tasked with governing Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the framework, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed. Conversely, Hamas negotiators have also stated they will not take steps toward disarmament before a complete Israeli military withdrawal.

Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya is meeting Egyptian intelligence officials as US envoy Jared Kushner holds talks with President el-Sissi on the Gaza ceasefire.

A Hamas delegation held talks with the Egyptian Intelligence Chief in Cairo on Sunday, in an attempt to address Israeli violations and ensure implementation of an agreed roadmap in Gaza. The delegation is being led by Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya, and the meeting was held in the Egyptian city of El-Alamein. This comes just ahead of US President Donald Trump’s envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner talking with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi about the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire. The Hamas official says talks will cover “the latest developments in the negotiations and the efforts being made to compel Israel to abide by the agreement, which includes the 15-point roadmap, and to begin its implementation.” “The delegation will brief Egyptian officials on Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, and Hayya will emphasise the movement’s commitment and readiness to implement the agreement as soon as Israel announces its commitment to it.” The meeting between the US President's envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Mediterranean city of El-Alamein “emphasised the need for all parties to fulfil their obligations under the Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement” reached in October 2025, says spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy in a statement. Also Read: KFC Mangaluru outlet sealed after complaint of spoiled and foul-smelling chicken According to AFP, a meeting is also being arranged between the Hamas negotiating delegation, the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, and US officials. This is likely to be held later in the week to discuss hurdles related to the agreement. "Mediators informed Hamas that US envoy Jared Kushner will hold a meeting with the Hamas leadership, in the presence of Egyptian and Qatari officials, before Kushner travels to Israel to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," said one of the Hamas sources, requesting anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomacy. Under the proposed US President Donald Trump's 15-point peace roadmap, Hamas previously indicated a readiness to hand over its weapons to a nascent technical committee tasked with governing Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the framework, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed. Conversely, Hamas negotiators have also stated they will not take steps toward disarmament before a complete Israeli military withdrawal.

Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya is meeting Egyptian intelligence officials as US envoy Jared Kushner holds talks with President el-Sissi on the Gaza ceasefire.

Hamas delegation meets Egyptian spy chief as US envoy Jared Kushner holds Gaza ceasefire talks

The Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate, with both sides exchanging heavy long-range strikes far beyond the front lines.

Ukrainian drone attacks in Russia’s southern regions reportedly killed two people, including an eight-year-old child, while debris damaged buildings in the port city of Novorossiysk. Russian authorities said their air defenses shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and the Black Sea.

Ukraine, meanwhile, reported that Russian drone and missile strikes killed civilians in Kherson. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched a large wave of missiles and drones targeting areas including the Odesa region and northeastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also warned that Russia could be preparing for a new mobilisation following its September parliamentary elections. Ukrainian authorities say intelligence points to preparations for a potential large-scale recruitment drive, although Russian officials have not confirmed such a plan.

Ukraine Strikes Russia With Hundreds of Drones as Moscow Launches Major Air Assault

Protests continue to intensify against a luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Demonstrators have been taking to the streets daily, voicing concerns over the development and its broader implications. The project has become a focal point of public anger, with activists calling for greater transparency and accountability. The ongoing unrest highlights rising tensions around high-profile real estate ventures connected to political figures.


Daily Protests Continue Against Luxury Resort Linked to Trump's Son-in-Law Jared Kushner

Protesters in Albania have taken to the streets against a controversial holiday property development, raising concerns over environmental impact, land use and transparency. Demonstrators say the project threatens local communities and natural landscapes, fueling a growing public backlash.


Albania Protests: Thousands March Against Jared Kushner-Linked Resort Plan

A massive coastal development project in Albania, linked to Affinity Partners of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, has sparked widespread protests. The high-profile couple who served as the senior advisors in the first Trump administration and remain prominent figures during US President Donald Trump's second term. The controversy sparked after the 44-year-old Ivanka revealed she and Kushner spent years pursuing the opportunity before acquiring the island, for a reported $1.4billion.&nbsp;Ivanka said that the island was a “lucky discovery”. "We were on a friend's boat, and we stopped for a swim – effectively, that's how we found it," Ivanka recalled of the lucky discovery. "We swam to the island. We went on a hike, barefoot all the way up to the top, and we were just captivated," Ivanka said. The project was “not business”, rather something personal.&nbsp;The project is heavily bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which is a major investor at Affinity Partners. The project spanned two islands. First is Sazan Island, an uninhabited 1,400-hectare island in the Adriatic Sea, that once served as a top-secret, heavily fortified military base during the Cold War. Ivanka and Jared plan to build 10,000 luxury hotel rooms, private villas, and a yacht marina. Next is an ecologically sensitive coastal area on the island within the Vjosa-Narta wetland ecosystem.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kennedy-center-remove-trump-name-court-ruling-renaming-illegal-1780644071860">In a blow to Trump's ambition Kennedy Center ordered to remove Trump's name by June 12</a>The project led to widespread protests from the locals, which were some of the largest civil demonstrations in the history of Albania. Tens of thousands of protestors have flooded the capital city of Tirana and the southern coastal towns protesting the “private property” claim with slogans "Albania is not for sale".Environmental groups have warned that the project could lead to these long-protected habitats being “irreversibly destroyed”. According to the Associated Press, "excavators and other heavy machinery have entered the area, "opening access routes, digging into the sand, clearing land among pine trees, and installing fencing." Meanwhile, Edi Rama, the prime minister of Albania said, "Albania should not be a country that fears an extraordinary project like this one, where exceptional partners have come together to invest 4 billion euros ($4.6billion)."&nbsp;Albania's Special Structure Against Corruption and Organised Crime has opened a formal investigation into the project. Investigators are probing how the land's protected status was rapidly altered by the government and whether the project exploits political connections. This bore resemblance to the earlier high-profile Affinity Partners project in Serbia, which offers a cautionary tale. Serbia’s prosecutor for organised crime charged four people, including a government minister, with abuse of office and falsification of documents to help pave the way for the development.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's luxury resort project in Albania has triggered mass protests, environmental concerns and a corruption investigation into the development.

A massive coastal development project in Albania, linked to Affinity Partners of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, has sparked widespread protests. The high-profile couple who served as the senior advisors in the first Trump administration and remain prominent figures during US President Donald Trump's second term. The controversy sparked after the 44-year-old Ivanka revealed she and Kushner spent years pursuing the opportunity before acquiring the island, for a reported $1.4billion. Ivanka said that the island was a “lucky discovery”. "We were on a friend's boat, and we stopped for a swim – effectively, that's how we found it," Ivanka recalled of the lucky discovery. "We swam to the island. We went on a hike, barefoot all the way up to the top, and we were just captivated," Ivanka said. The project was “not business”, rather something personal. The project is heavily bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which is a major investor at Affinity Partners. The project spanned two islands. First is Sazan Island, an uninhabited 1,400-hectare island in the Adriatic Sea, that once served as a top-secret, heavily fortified military base during the Cold War. Ivanka and Jared plan to build 10,000 luxury hotel rooms, private villas, and a yacht marina. Next is an ecologically sensitive coastal area on the island within the Vjosa-Narta wetland ecosystem. Also Read: In a blow to Trump's ambition Kennedy Center ordered to remove Trump's name by June 12 The project led to widespread protests from the locals, which were some of the largest civil demonstrations in the history of Albania. Tens of thousands of protestors have flooded the capital city of Tirana and the southern coastal towns protesting the “private property” claim with slogans "Albania is not for sale". Environmental groups have warned that the project could lead to these long-protected habitats being “irreversibly destroyed”. According to the Associated Press, "excavators and other heavy machinery have entered the area, "opening access routes, digging into the sand, clearing land among pine trees, and installing fencing." Meanwhile, Edi Rama, the prime minister of Albania said, "Albania should not be a country that fears an extraordinary project like this one, where exceptional partners have come together to invest 4 billion euros ($4.6billion)." Albania's Special Structure Against Corruption and Organised Crime has opened a formal investigation into the project. Investigators are probing how the land's protected status was rapidly altered by the government and whether the project exploits political connections. This bore resemblance to the earlier high-profile Affinity Partners project in Serbia, which offers a cautionary tale. Serbia’s prosecutor for organised crime charged four people, including a government minister, with abuse of office and falsification of documents to help pave the way for the development.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's luxury resort project in Albania has triggered mass protests, environmental concerns and a corruption investigation into the development.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's $1.4 billion Albania project sparks mass protests and corruption probe

Protests have erupted in Albania over a controversial luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner, who is part of the Trump family. Environmental groups and local activists say the planned development on a protected coastal area could seriously harm biodiversity and fragile ecosystems. While supporters highlight investment and tourism benefits, critics warn the project may damage one of Albania’s most sensitive natural landscapes, triggering a growing environmental and political debate.


Kushner Resort Plan: Anger Over Project Linked to Trump's Son-in-law

Albania Protests Erupt Over Resort Project Linked to Trump’s Son-In-Law

Jared Kushner is reportedly facing renewed legal scrutiny as a widening corruption probe gathers momentum in the United States. According to reports, authorities are examining financial dealings and alleged conflicts of interest linked to his business and political activities. The development has triggered fresh political debate in Washington, with growing attention on accountability and ethics in public office. Investigations are said to be ongoing as officials review key documents and testimonies related to the case.


Jared Kushner Faces Oath As Corruption Probe Grows

Amid Iran conflict, Rep. Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat from Arizona, delivered remarks on the House floor on Monday addressing Jared Kushner’s role during the Trump administration. In her speech, Ansari criticized what she described as ethical concerns surrounding Trump's son-in-law Kushner’s conduct and broader actions taken by the administration. She characterized the situation in strong terms, alleging instances of “naked, open, brazen corruption,” and called for greater scrutiny and accountability.


Congresswoman Ansari Attacks Trump Administration of Naked Corruption

France has reportedly barred a U.S. ambassador and Jared Kushner from meeting French ministers after a diplomatic row over a missed summons. The move signals rising tensions between Paris and Washington, as French officials stress protocol and accountability in high-level engagements. The decision has sparked diplomatic attention, highlighting strains in transatlantic coordination and political sensitivities surrounding official meetings and diplomatic conduct.


France Bars Kushner from Ministerial Meetings; Blocked After Missing Summons

France Bans US Ambassador from Meeting French Ministers | Kushner Barred for Skipping Summons 

A compliance officer at Deutsche Bank flagged suspicious transactions related to the financier and sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Tammy Hill McFadden, according to a July 12, 2019, FBI report, worked as a Florida-based anti-money laundering compliance officer for Deutsche Bank until 2018. She raised a suspicious activity report involving Kushner and Epstein, before being laid off due to low productivity.&nbsp;Hill McFadden said that in late 2016, she came across a “mind-boggling” transaction involving Jared Kushner's company, Real Contrad, LLC, which was sending payments in cryptocurrency to a Russian person who was listed as an employee of Real Contrad, LLC. But the flow of the payment was unusual, according to Hill; "she was unable to validate the origination or the recipient of the funds…she had never seen a flow like that. She examined the July and/or August 2016 activity" before reporting to her supervisor. Her supervisor rejected her reservations, calling them unfounded. She further dug up on the person and found a website which had no personal details and was completely vague. Then she checked the employee list of Real Contrad, but the man was not mentioned.&nbsp;"When potentially suspicious activity was brought to the attention of the RM, they used the information they knew or had to look into the issues. They were not supposed to contact the client or ask them questions related to the activity." But Jared Kushner was contacted, and the case was closed. A few days after Hill McFadden raised concerns about Kushner, she was told that her productivity had dropped and was moved to an adjacent team; she was laid off.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/epstein-files-uk-nca-keir-starmer-intelligence-1771412540929">New Epstein files show UK NCA investigated British links amid Starmer’s ‘no knowledge’ claim</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Screenshot EFTA00128989

According to the FBI report, in 2015, Hill-McFadden emailed her concerns about Epstein to her supervisor, “EPSTEIN sent wires to young women, perhaps in their twenties. He also sent wires to a woman in France who owned an art gallery. HILL-MCFADDEN gathered this information through GOOGLE searches.” She said that she did not want to work for Epstein; she suggested it was not just her, the Jacksonville, FL team did not want to work with Epstein. Her supervisor explained that Epstein had already served his time, suggesting the 2008 conviction. She further claimed that there was a suspicious activity report (SAR) during 2016 when the Federal Reserve was at the Deutsche premises.&nbsp;The claims also line up with a 2022 suit filed against Deutsche Bank by Epstein’s victims, who were eventually awarded $75 million. McFadden's claim also aligns with those made by New York State financial regulators in 2020 as part of a $150 million fine they levied against the bank for profiting from Epstein's crimes.&nbsp;

An FBI report reveals that a Deutsche Bank compliance officer flagged suspicious transactions linked to Jeffrey Epstein and Jared Kushner. 

A compliance officer at Deutsche Bank flagged suspicious transactions related to the financier and sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Tammy Hill McFadden, according to a July 12, 2019, FBI report, worked as a Florida-based anti-money laundering compliance officer for Deutsche Bank until 2018. She raised a suspicious activity report involving Kushner and Epstein, before being laid off due to low productivity. Hill McFadden said that in late 2016, she came across a “mind-boggling” transaction involving Jared Kushner's company, Real Contrad, LLC, which was sending payments in cryptocurrency to a Russian person who was listed as an employee of Real Contrad, LLC. But the flow of the payment was unusual, according to Hill; "she was unable to validate the origination or the recipient of the funds…she had never seen a flow like that. She examined the July and/or August 2016 activity" before reporting to her supervisor. Her supervisor rejected her reservations, calling them unfounded. She further dug up on the person and found a website which had no personal details and was completely vague. Then she checked the employee list of Real Contrad, but the man was not mentioned. "When potentially suspicious activity was brought to the attention of the RM, they used the information they knew or had to look into the issues. They were not supposed to contact the client or ask them questions related to the activity." But Jared Kushner was contacted, and the case was closed. A few days after Hill McFadden raised concerns about Kushner, she was told that her productivity had dropped and was moved to an adjacent team; she was laid off. Also Read: New Epstein files show UK NCA investigated British links amid Starmer’s ‘no knowledge’ claim

An FBI report reveals that a Deutsche Bank compliance officer flagged suspicious transactions linked to Jeffrey Epstein and Jared Kushner.&nbsp;

Deutsche Bank compliance officer who flagged suspicious transactions linked to Epstein, Kushner was laid off

A second round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States is set to take place in Geneva, with Oman acting as mediator. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is heading to Switzerland, while US representatives including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to participate.

Tehran has signalled readiness to discuss possible compromises as both sides explore a potential deal amid ongoing tensions.

US Military Preparing For Potentially Weeks-Long Iran Operation 

Reuters, citing a U.S. official and three informed sources, reported that the United States and Iran are scheduled to hold a second round of nuclear negotiations on Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to the report, the U.S. delegation is expected to include Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Representatives from Oman are also expected to attend as mediators.

Report: US Prepares For Weeks-Long Iran OPs

Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), finds herself embroiled in a controversy involving a whistleblower complaint that was allegedly kept hidden for eight months. An anonymous intelligence official filed a complaint in May 2025 alleging that Gabbard withheld or "locked down" highly sensitive intelligence for political reasons. The complaint mentioned an intercepted discussion about Jared Kushner between two foreign nationals, a Wall Street Journal report claims. The NSA-intercepted phone call has the two of them talking about an individual close to President Trump. Some reports suggest that they are discussing Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. Officials familiar with the matter told WSJ that there was as yet no evidence corroborating the discussion’s claims. The nationalities of those in the phone call and the content of their conversation have not yet been released.&nbsp;Whistleblower's attorney, Andrew Bakaj, accused Gabbard of stonewalling, noting the complaint was kept in a secure safe and not shared with Congress until February 2026, despite legal requirements for timely disclosure. She is said to have met with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to discuss the intercept. The intelligence community’s inspector general, Christopher Fox, and multiple reports have claimed that she restricted the distribution of intelligence about this conversation after this meeting. Meanwhile, senior Trump administration officials told the paper that the allegations about Kushner were false. They refused to share more details, citing a probable leak of a secret surveillance method.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-a-good-start-iran-s-foreign-minister-cautiously-optimistic-after-high-stakes-talks-with-us-in-oman-1770390906188">'A good start': Iran’s foreign minister cautiously optimistic after high-stakes talks with US in Oman</a><h2>Redactions in the released complaint about ‘person close to Trump’</h2>Last week, there were reports about this highly secretive complaint against Gabbard, which claimed that the people on the call were discussing a person close to President Donald Trump. With Kushner's name now cropping up, the two things are aligning. The conversation also involved Iran, WSJ reported. Congress’s intelligence committee leaders read the complaint last week. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-AR) said Gabbard dealt with the complaint just as she should have and called it out as "uncredible". His Democratic counterpart, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) slammed the release sying it was hard to determine the complaint’s credibility because several portions were redacted. Gabbard's office said that the redactions were within her legal authority.

Tulsi Gabbard is at the centre of a whistleblower complaint filed in 2025 alleging that she suppressed a specific NSA intelligence report. The report purportedly mentions a call between two foreign nationals discussing a high-ranking individual close to President Trump.

Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), finds herself embroiled in a controversy involving a whistleblower complaint that was allegedly kept hidden for eight months. An anonymous intelligence official filed a complaint in May 2025 alleging that Gabbard withheld or "locked down" highly sensitive intelligence for political reasons. The complaint mentioned an intercepted discussion about Jared Kushner between two foreign nationals, a Wall Street Journal report claims. The NSA-intercepted phone call has the two of them talking about an individual close to President Trump. Some reports suggest that they are discussing Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. Officials familiar with the matter told WSJ that there was as yet no evidence corroborating the discussion’s claims. The nationalities of those in the phone call and the content of their conversation have not yet been released. Whistleblower's attorney, Andrew Bakaj, accused Gabbard of stonewalling, noting the complaint was kept in a secure safe and not shared with Congress until February 2026, despite legal requirements for timely disclosure. She is said to have met with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to discuss the intercept. The intelligence community’s inspector general, Christopher Fox, and multiple reports have claimed that she restricted the distribution of intelligence about this conversation after this meeting. Meanwhile, senior Trump administration officials told the paper that the allegations about Kushner were false. They refused to share more details, citing a probable leak of a secret surveillance method. Also Read: 'A good start': Iran’s foreign minister cautiously optimistic after high-stakes talks with US in Oman Redactions in the released complaint about ‘person close to Trump’ Last week, there were reports about this highly secretive complaint against Gabbard, which claimed that the people on the call were discussing a person close to President Donald Trump. With Kushner's name now cropping up, the two things are aligning. The conversation also involved Iran, WSJ reported. Congress’s intelligence committee leaders read the complaint last week. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-AR) said Gabbard dealt with the complaint just as she should have and called it out as "uncredible". His Democratic counterpart, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) slammed the release sying it was hard to determine the complaint’s credibility because several portions were redacted. Gabbard's office said that the redactions were within her legal authority.

Tulsi Gabbard is at the centre of a whistleblower complaint filed in 2025 alleging that she suppressed a specific NSA intelligence report. The report purportedly mentions a call between two foreign nationals discussing a high-ranking individual close to President Trump.

Whistleblower complaint alleges Tulsi Gabbard 'locked down' NSA report on Kushner: Report

Trump's son-in-law and former senior adviser, Jared Kushner's investment firm, Affinity Partners, has abandoned the plan of building a Trump-branded hotel in Belgrade, Serbia. The project had led to major backlash after a cabinet member and three other officials were indicted over the project on Monday. According to news reports the Jared Kushner had been working for two years to gain permission to tear down a protected building to build a $500 million luxury hotel in Belgrade, Serbia.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Why did the project become controversial?</h2>The Serbian government was planning to strip the site of its cultural heritage protections and transfer it to &nbsp;Affinity Partners. In May, a semi-independent prosecutors office arrested an official for allegedly forging a document that permitted the demolition of the site. Soon, the Serbian government passed two Parliamentary measures to strip its protected status. An anti-government protest erupted, and it fueled nationalist sentiment. Citizens and preservationists view the decision as disrespectful and an attempt to curry favour for the US government and the Trump family. Prosecutors file charges against Culture Minister and three other officials abusing their positions and falsifying documents.<h2>Clarification by Aleksandar Vučić's government&nbsp;</h2>Aleksandar Vučić said the project was a “witch hunt”, and Serbia lost an important investment. It didn't mean to take down a heritage site, but to replace an old and damaged building with a new one. Both on the left and right united in protest of the proposed project. As for the right, it was a symbol of national identity, and on the left, it was the giveaway of a public asset without a thorough process.&nbsp;The site was the building of a former Yugoslav Ministry of Defence and was damaged during the 1999 NATO bombing during the Kosovo War to halt the ethnic cleansing led by former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević. It was seen by many Serbs as a symbol of suffering and national heritage.

Jared Kushner has dropped plans to build a Trump-branded luxury hotel in Serbia following fierce public protests, political outrage, and a corruption investigation involving senior officials.


Trump's son-in-law and former senior adviser, Jared Kushner's investment firm, Affinity Partners, has abandoned the plan of building a Trump-branded hotel in Belgrade, Serbia. The project had led to major backlash after a cabinet member and three other officials were indicted over the project on Monday. According to news reports the Jared Kushner had been working for two years to gain permission to tear down a protected building to build a $500 million luxury hotel in Belgrade, Serbia. Why did the project become controversial? The Serbian government was planning to strip the site of its cultural heritage protections and transfer it to Affinity Partners. In May, a semi-independent prosecutors office arrested an official for allegedly forging a document that permitted the demolition of the site. Soon, the Serbian government passed two Parliamentary measures to strip its protected status. An anti-government protest erupted, and it fueled nationalist sentiment. Citizens and preservationists view the decision as disrespectful and an attempt to curry favour for the US government and the Trump family. Prosecutors file charges against Culture Minister and three other officials abusing their positions and falsifying documents. Clarification by Aleksandar Vučić's government Aleksandar Vučić said the project was a “witch hunt”, and Serbia lost an important investment. It didn't mean to take down a heritage site, but to replace an old and damaged building with a new one. Both on the left and right united in protest of the proposed project. As for the right, it was a symbol of national identity, and on the left, it was the giveaway of a public asset without a thorough process. The site was the building of a former Yugoslav Ministry of Defence and was damaged during the 1999 NATO bombing during the Kosovo War to halt the ethnic cleansing led by former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević. It was seen by many Serbs as a symbol of suffering and national heritage.

Jared Kushner has dropped plans to build a Trump-branded luxury hotel in Serbia following fierce public protests, political outrage, and a corruption investigation involving senior officials.

Jared Kushner drops Trump hotel project in Serbia after massive corruption probe

US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was a key negotiator in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, has said that the success or failure of the 20-point peace plan will depend on whether Israel and the international partners involved can create “a viable alternative” to govern Gaza, and if they do then Hamas is sure to fail.“If they are successful, Hamas will fail, and Gaza will not be a threat to Israel in the future,” Kushner said in an exclusive ‘60 Minutes’ interview on CBS News.&nbsp;Reflecting on the current situation in the Gaza Strip, Kushner said that as a terrorist organization he expects Hamas to employ violent tactics in an effort to reassert its power in Gaza.“Hamas right now is doing exactly what you would expect a terrorist organization to do, which is to try to reconstitute and take back their positions,” Kushner said.&nbsp;The interview took place just days before the US warned that Hamas may be planning an attack on Palestinian civilians. Israeli forces and Hamas also clashed over the weekend, with an Israeli military official saying the country struck targets in southern Gaza after Hamas shot at Israeli soldiers—marking a test of the ceasefire.&nbsp;The US peace deal, still in its first phase, saw Hamas release 20 living hostages, and so far return the bodies of at least 10 confirmed deceased hostages.&nbsp;The 20-point peace deal eventually calls for an interim governing body made up of “qualified Palestinians and international experts” to run Gaza, and overseen by a Board of Peace chaired by Trump.&nbsp;The rebuilding and post-war governance in Gaza could be derailed by violence in the decimated strip. Video this week showed Hamas fighters executing Palestinians they accused of being gang members collaborating with Israel, said CBS News report.Armed Hamas fighters are seen deployed as the terror group has been working to re-establish itself as the entity governing Gaza. The US said in a statement Saturday that attacks against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement.

 Israeli forces and Hamas also clashed over the weekend, with an Israeli military official saying the country struck targets in southern Gaza after Hamas shot at Israeli soldiers—marking a test of the ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was a key negotiator in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, has said that the success or failure of the 20-point peace plan will depend on whether Israel and the international partners involved can create “a viable alternative” to govern Gaza, and if they do then Hamas is sure to fail. “If they are successful, Hamas will fail, and Gaza will not be a threat to Israel in the future,” Kushner said in an exclusive ‘60 Minutes’ interview on CBS News. Reflecting on the current situation in the Gaza Strip, Kushner said that as a terrorist organization he expects Hamas to employ violent tactics in an effort to reassert its power in Gaza. “Hamas right now is doing exactly what you would expect a terrorist organization to do, which is to try to reconstitute and take back their positions,” Kushner said. The interview took place just days before the US warned that Hamas may be planning an attack on Palestinian civilians. Israeli forces and Hamas also clashed over the weekend, with an Israeli military official saying the country struck targets in southern Gaza after Hamas shot at Israeli soldiers—marking a test of the ceasefire. The US peace deal, still in its first phase, saw Hamas release 20 living hostages, and so far return the bodies of at least 10 confirmed deceased hostages. The 20-point peace deal eventually calls for an interim governing body made up of “qualified Palestinians and international experts” to run Gaza, and overseen by a Board of Peace chaired by Trump. The rebuilding and post-war governance in Gaza could be derailed by violence in the decimated strip. Video this week showed Hamas fighters executing Palestinians they accused of being gang members collaborating with Israel, said CBS News report. Armed Hamas fighters are seen deployed as the terror group has been working to re-establish itself as the entity governing Gaza. The US said in a statement Saturday that attacks against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement.

&nbsp;Israeli forces and Hamas also clashed over the weekend, with an Israeli military official saying the country struck targets in southern Gaza after Hamas shot at Israeli soldiers—marking a test of the ceasefire.

Creating ‘viable alternative’ to govern Gaza key to success of peace plan, Hamas will fail: Jared Kushner

In a preview of an upcoming interview, Trump's two Middle East negotiators, Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, said that for a moment, Trump felt like Israel was 'out of control' and that the Israeli strike on Qatar was hurting their cause. In an upcoming show, 60 minutes of the CBS News, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff spoke to Leslie Stahl, hinting at a rare tension between Trump's top negotiator and Tel Aviv.Steve Witkoff describes how they received the news of Israeli strikes on Qatar, "And we woke up the next morning to find out that there had been this attack, and of course, I was called by the president. You had no idea? Obviously, none whatsoever. You know, I think both Jared and I felt—I feel we felt a little bit betrayed.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Exclusive: Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, and special envoy Steve Witkoff give a behind-the-scenes look at the tense moments leading up to the ceasefire and hostage deal after an Israeli bombing threatened to derail the agreement. “[Trump] felt like the Israelis… <a href="https://t.co/WtZpJcYHTG">pic.twitter.com/WtZpJcYHTG</a>&mdash; 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) <a href="https://twitter.com/60Minutes/status/1979296272600195314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jared Kushner who had led several Middle East Negotiations, said after the botched up attempt to kill Hamas leader, and Israel was going out of control. “I think he felt like the Israelis were getting a little bit out of control in what they were doing and that it was time to be very strong and stop them from doing things that he felt were not in their long-term interests,” said Kushner.&nbsp;Stahl was highlighting that Netanyahu had attacked a ‘peacemaker’. Witkoff respond that the attack had a 'metastasizing effect' on the negotiations, as Qataris were critical about it to begin with and it fratcured their diplomatic trust and it also pushed Hamas underground.The segment will air on Sunday in CBS, the preview signal a rare public cirticsm of Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli military forces from its longstanding ally United States.

Israel’s strike in Qatar “hurt their own cause,” revealing rare tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv over the Gaza conflict. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff calls it a “major setback” for peace talks.

In a preview of an upcoming interview, Trump's two Middle East negotiators, Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, said that for a moment, Trump felt like Israel was 'out of control' and that the Israeli strike on Qatar was hurting their cause. In an upcoming show, 60 minutes of the CBS News, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff spoke to Leslie Stahl, hinting at a rare tension between Trump's top negotiator and Tel Aviv. Steve Witkoff describes how they received the news of Israeli strikes on Qatar, "And we woke up the next morning to find out that there had been this attack, and of course, I was called by the president. You had no idea? Obviously, none whatsoever. You know, I think both Jared and I felt—I feel we felt a little bit betrayed.”

Israel’s strike in Qatar “hurt their own cause,” revealing rare tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv over the Gaza conflict. US envoy Steve Witkoff calls it a “major setback” for peace talks.

Kushner says Israel was 'out of control', strike in Qatar ‘hurt their own cause’

President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and a senior envoy are heading to Egypt on Saturday to finalise the details of the release of hostages, as the US president warned he would “not tolerate delay” by Hamas in implementing the peace plan with Israel. A White House official confirmed that Jared Kushner and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are travelling to the region to address the finalisation of details on the release of hostages and to discuss the deal pushed by the US president to bring an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, reported AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Palestinian militant group buckled on Friday and agreed to Trump’s plan for ending the war that has been going on two years, saying it was ready to release all hostages and discuss details on the deal.Trump then called on Israel to “immediately” halt its bombings of the war-ravaged territory.&nbsp;WATCH: India-Russia ties: 'Russia can't make a deal with Pak to make India feel uncomfortable'<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-russia-ties-russia-can-t-make-a-deal-with-pak-to-make-india-feel-uncomfortable-1759602012800/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-russia-ties-russia-can-t-make-a-deal-with-pak-to-make-india-feel-uncomfortable-1759602012800/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Hours later, the civil defence agency in Gaza claimed that at least 57 people were killed in Israeli strikes since Saturday dawn, including 40 in Gaza City alone.“Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off. I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again,” Trump posted on Truth Social.“Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly!”&nbsp;Trump’s Gaza peace proposal calls for a halt to hostilities, the release of hostages within 72 hours, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and disarmament of Hamas.In an interview on Saturday with Axios, Trump said a peace deal in Gaza was “close”and that he will push to have it finalized in coming days. “I said, ‘Bibi, this is your chance for victory.’ He was fine with it,” Trump told the publication. “He’s got to be fine with it. He has no choice. With me, you got to be fine.”&nbsp;Trump also said his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan was “very helpful” in urging Hamas to agree to the release of hostages. “Erdogan helped a lot. He is a tough guy, but he is a friend of mine,” Trump said.

A White House official confirmed that Jared Kushner and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are travelling to the region to address the finalisation of details on the release of hostages and to discuss the deal pushed by the US president to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and a senior envoy are heading to Egypt on Saturday to finalise the details of the release of hostages, as the US president warned he would “not tolerate delay” by Hamas in implementing the peace plan with Israel. A White House official confirmed that Jared Kushner and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are travelling to the region to address the finalisation of details on the release of hostages and to discuss the deal pushed by the US president to bring an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, reported AFP. The Palestinian militant group buckled on Friday and agreed to Trump’s plan for ending the war that has been going on two years, saying it was ready to release all hostages and discuss details on the deal. Trump then called on Israel to “immediately” halt its bombings of the war-ravaged territory. WATCH: India-Russia ties: 'Russia can't make a deal with Pak to make India feel uncomfortable' https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-russia-ties-russia-can-t-make-a-deal-with-pak-to-make-india-feel-uncomfortable-1759602012800/embed Hours later, the civil defence agency in Gaza claimed that at least 57 people were killed in Israeli strikes since Saturday dawn, including 40 in Gaza City alone. “Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off. I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly!” Trump’s Gaza peace proposal calls for a halt to hostilities, the release of hostages within 72 hours, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and disarmament of Hamas. In an interview on Saturday with Axios, Trump said a peace deal in Gaza was “close”and that he will push to have it finalized in coming days. “I said, ‘Bibi, this is your chance for victory.’ He was fine with it,” Trump told the publication. “He’s got to be fine with it. He has no choice. With me, you got to be fine.” Trump also said his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan was “very helpful” in urging Hamas to agree to the release of hostages. “Erdogan helped a lot. He is a tough guy, but he is a friend of mine,” Trump said.

A White House official confirmed that Jared Kushner and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are travelling to the region to address the finalisation of details on the release of hostages and to discuss the deal pushed by the US president to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas.&nbsp;

Trump’s envoy Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner to expedite Gaza peace deal

United States President Donald Trump has embarked on a first major foreign trip in his second term to the Middle East and reports suggest that the 'Middle East man' -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-embarks-on-middle-east-tour-with-focus-on-business-regional-tensions-9057057" rel="dofollow"> Jared Kushner</a> - from his first term might be involved privately.
Kushner, president&rsquo;s son-in-law, who served as a chief Middle East negotiator in Trump&rsquo;s first term has not joined him officially for the trip but CNN reported that he may have been heavily involved in discussions with Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, about signing agreements that would normalise diplomatic relations with Israel.
Kushner, who played a central role in brokering the Abraham Accords, a historic series of agreements that normalised diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco is looking to expand the Abraham Accords in his second term.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-embarks-on-middle-east-tour-with-focus-on-business-regional-tensions-9057057">US President Trump embarks on Middle East tour with focus on business &amp; regional tensions</a>
<h2>Trump's 'Middle East man'</h2>
Though Jared Kusner was the chief negotiator who facilitated behind-the-scenes diplomacy in the Middle East for the Trump administration, he was heavily criticised for his lack of experience and perceived naivety regarding the complexities of the region. &nbsp;When Trump appointed him as a senior advisor tasked with one of the most volatile and diplomatically sensitive portfolios, many foreign policy experts and diplomats expressed concern. Kushner had no formal background in international relations, diplomacy, or Middle East studies&mdash;his prior experience was in real estate and business. Critics argued that he underestimated the depth of historical grievances, sectarian tensions, and regional dynamics, especially in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Kushner also led the development of the Trump administration&rsquo;s Israeli-Palestinian peace proposal, released in January 2020 under the title &ldquo;Peace to Prosperity.&rdquo; This was a key point of criticism against him. Palestinian leaders not only rejected the plan but also accused Kushner of being biased toward Israel, pointing to his family&rsquo;s personal and financial ties to Israeli institutions. Diplomats and analysts noted that the plan failed to address core Palestinian demands and ignored decades of nuanced negotiations, instead proposing what many saw as a transactional, top-down solution focused on economic incentives rather than political rights and sovereignty.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-marco-rubio-jd-vance-claiming-credit-for-india-pakistan-ceasefire-op-sindoor-9055817">From 'none of our business' to Trump claiming credit for Indo-Pak ceasefire: Here's what we know</a>
However, the Abraham Accords remained his major achievement in the region. He capitalised on shared regional concerns about Iran and a growing appetite for economic cooperation. He used strategic incentives&mdash;such as arms deals and U.S. policy concessions&mdash;to bring the parties to the table. The agreements marked a major shift in Middle East geopolitics and were widely seen as a diplomatic success, breaking with decades of Arab consensus that normalisation with Israel should only follow a resolution to the Palestinian issue.
In addition to peace initiatives, Kushner supported the administration&rsquo;s maximum pressure campaign against Iran. He backed President Trump&rsquo;s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) in 2018 and worked to unite Gulf Arab states and Israel in opposition to Iranian influence in the region. Though not the architect of Iran policy, Kushner played a supporting role in advancing this strategy through diplomatic alignment and security cooperation with U.S. allies in the region.
Kushner&rsquo;s approach to the Middle East also involved cultivating a close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS). Their direct communications and mutual support helped shape U.S.-Saudi relations during Trump&rsquo;s presidency. However, this relationship drew significant criticism, particularly after the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.&nbsp;
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/talk-with-putin-now-trump-urges-zelensky-to-sit-for-talks-proposed-by-putin-end-the-bloodbath-9058476">'Have the meeting NOW': Trump urges Zelensky to sit for talks proposed by Putin, end the 'bloodbath'</a>
&nbsp;

World | Trump has embarked on a first major foreign trip in his second term to the Middle East and reports suggest that the 'Middle East man' - Jared Kushner - might be involved privately.

United States President Donald Trump has embarked on a first major foreign trip in his second term to the Middle East and reports suggest that the 'Middle East man' - Jared Kushner - from his first term might be involved privately. Kushner, president’s son-in-law, who served as a chief Middle East negotiator in Trump’s first term has not joined him officially for the trip but CNN reported that he may have been heavily involved in discussions with Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, about signing agreements that would normalise diplomatic relations with Israel. Kushner, who played a central role in brokering the Abraham Accords, a historic series of agreements that normalised diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco is looking to expand the Abraham Accords in his second term. Read More | US President Trump embarks on Middle East tour with focus on business & regional tensions Trump's 'Middle East man' Though Jared Kusner was the chief negotiator who facilitated behind-the-scenes diplomacy in the Middle East for the Trump administration, he was heavily criticised for his lack of experience and perceived naivety regarding the complexities of the region. When Trump appointed him as a senior advisor tasked with one of the most volatile and diplomatically sensitive portfolios, many foreign policy experts and diplomats expressed concern. Kushner had no formal background in international relations, diplomacy, or Middle East studies—his prior experience was in real estate and business. Critics argued that he underestimated the depth of historical grievances, sectarian tensions, and regional dynamics, especially in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Kushner also led the development of the Trump administration’s Israeli-Palestinian peace proposal, released in January 2020 under the title “Peace to Prosperity.” This was a key point of criticism against him. Palestinian leaders not only rejected the plan but also accused Kushner of being biased toward Israel, pointing to his family’s personal and financial ties to Israeli institutions. Diplomats and analysts noted that the plan failed to address core Palestinian demands and ignored decades of nuanced negotiations, instead proposing what many saw as a transactional, top-down solution focused on economic incentives rather than political rights and sovereignty. Read More | From 'none of our business' to Trump claiming credit for Indo-Pak ceasefire: Here's what we know However, the Abraham Accords remained his major achievement in the region. He capitalised on shared regional concerns about Iran and a growing appetite for economic cooperation. He used strategic incentives—such as arms deals and U.S. policy concessions—to bring the parties to the table. The agreements marked a major shift in Middle East geopolitics and were widely seen as a diplomatic success, breaking with decades of Arab consensus that normalisation with Israel should only follow a resolution to the Palestinian issue. In addition to peace initiatives, Kushner supported the administration’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran. He backed President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) in 2018 and worked to unite Gulf Arab states and Israel in opposition to Iranian influence in the region. Though not the architect of Iran policy, Kushner played a supporting role in advancing this strategy through diplomatic alignment and security cooperation with U.S. allies in the region. Kushner’s approach to the Middle East also involved cultivating a close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS). Their direct communications and mutual support helped shape U.S.-Saudi relations during Trump’s presidency. However, this relationship drew significant criticism, particularly after the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Read More | 'Have the meeting NOW': Trump urges Zelensky to sit for talks proposed by Putin, end the 'bloodbath'

Is Donald Trump's 'Middle East man' Jared Kushner working behind the scenes for expansion of Abraham Accords?

Jared Kushner, former White House senior adviser and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, reportedly played a major role in shaping Trump&rsquo;s proposal for US control over Gaza.&nbsp;
According to Puck News, Kushner was involved in drafting the statement Trump made during a White House briefing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The plan suggests clearing Palestinians from Gaza for redevelopment.
Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exaggerated-trump-on-reports-of-us-blowing-iran-into-smithereens-calls-for-nuclear-peace-agreement-8693927"> </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exaggerated-trump-on-reports-of-us-blowing-iran-into-smithereens-calls-for-nuclear-peace-agreement-8693927">'Exaggerated': Trump on reports of US blowing Iran into smithereens, calls for 'nuclear peace agreement'</a>
<h2>Netanyahu&rsquo;s position on the plan</h2>
Sources cited by Puck News claim that Netanyahu had not requested Trump to pursue such a strategy in advance. The report suggests that the idea may have originated from Kushner, who has previously advocated for reshaping Gaza&rsquo;s future.
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<h2>Kushner&rsquo;s past remarks on Gaza</h2>
During a Harvard event last year, Kushner described Gaza&rsquo;s coastal land as &ldquo;valuable waterfront property&rdquo; and suggested moving out its residents to allow for redevelopment.&nbsp;
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cocaine-not-worse-than-whisky-colombian-president-challenges-us-ties-8693815">Cocaine &lsquo;not worse than whisky&rsquo;: Colombian president challenges US ties</a>
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a little bit of an unfortunate situation there, but I think from Israel&rsquo;s perspective, I would do my best to move the people out and then clean it up,&rdquo; he further added. &ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t think that Israel has stated that they don&rsquo;t want the people to move back there afterward.&rdquo;
Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/everything-to-know-about-shooter-behind-swedishs-deadliest-mass-shooting-8693479"> </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/everything-to-know-about-shooter-behind-swedishs-deadliest-mass-shooting-8693479">Everything to know about shooter behind Swedish&rsquo;s deadliest mass shooting</a>
<h2>Netanyahu&rsquo;s meetings with US officials</h2>
Netanyahu is set to meet US Vice President JD Vance today, as reported by The Times of Israel. He is also scheduled to hold discussions with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on key regional issues.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Kushner was involved in drafting the statement Trump made during a White House briefing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The plan suggests clearing Palestinians from Gaza for its redevelopment.

Jared Kushner, former White House senior adviser and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, reportedly played a major role in shaping Trump’s proposal for US control over Gaza. According to Puck News, Kushner was involved in drafting the statement Trump made during a White House briefing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The plan suggests clearing Palestinians from Gaza for redevelopment. Also Read | 'Exaggerated': Trump on reports of US blowing Iran into smithereens, calls for 'nuclear peace agreement' Netanyahu’s position on the plan Sources cited by Puck News claim that Netanyahu had not requested Trump to pursue such a strategy in advance. The report suggests that the idea may have originated from Kushner, who has previously advocated for reshaping Gaza’s future. Also Read | Who are the deported migrants? US military plane brings back 104 Indian nationals Kushner’s past remarks on Gaza During a Harvard event last year, Kushner described Gaza’s coastal land as “valuable waterfront property” and suggested moving out its residents to allow for redevelopment. Also Read | Cocaine ‘not worse than whisky’: Colombian president challenges US ties “It’s a little bit of an unfortunate situation there, but I think from Israel’s perspective, I would do my best to move the people out and then clean it up,” he further added. “But I don’t think that Israel has stated that they don’t want the people to move back there afterward.” Also Read | Everything to know about shooter behind Swedish’s deadliest mass shooting Netanyahu’s meetings with US officials Netanyahu is set to meet US Vice President JD Vance today, as reported by The Times of Israel. He is also scheduled to hold discussions with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on key regional issues. (With inputs from agencies)

Kushner played key role in Trump’s Gaza strategy: Report

Apart from literally dodging the bullet, there were a number of things Republican Donald Trump did right in his successful bid to return as United States president. Here is a breakdown of the factors that contributed to doing what was deemed impossible: winning the White House for a non-consecutive second term.

<h2>1. Early bird gets the votes: Starting campaign before election season</h2>

Trump's campaign was not months, but years old. He announced his re-election campaign way back in 2022, as soon as the dust settled on the Covid pandemic. He established his campaign team, without allowing any of them to dominate the headlines, unlike people like Kellyanne Conway in his first campaign of 2016, who became the story. In 2024, his comms team was almost invisible, till he called them on stage to thank them during his victory speech on the night of November 5. Susie Wiles, who will now become his chief of staff, is one among them.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-20-cabinet-who-is-susie-wiles-the-ice-maiden-and-first-woman-white-house-chief-of-staff-774501">Also read: Trump 2.0 cabinet: Who is Susie Wiles, the 'ice maiden' and first woman White House chief of staff?</a>

<h2>2. Playing victim card on legal troubles</h2>

There was an appearance that the Democratic regime was trying to send Trump to jail over a number of cases: election subversion related to the Capitol riots of 6 January 2021, tax-related lawsuits and the Stormy Daniels affair being prominent among them. But each court appearance made him a star in the eyes of his supporters, who only grew in numbers as the cases dragged on. Trump called it a 'witch hunt', as it was pretty clear that none of these would lead to any logical conclusion, for fear of upsetting presidential immunity. Had Trump been jailed (if he lost the election), that would have set the precedent of future governments prosecuting past presidents. Trump played the victim card to the hilt, which appears to have appealed to more voters than Democrats expected.

Watch: US Elections 2024: Tracking 'Moments' Leading To Trump 2.0

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<h2>3. Not involving his family: It was always 'I, me, myself'</h2>

Trump's family – particularly his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner – were hounded with disparaging stories in the liberal media throughout his presidency of 2016-2020. This time around, he appears to have taken a conscious decision not to foreground his family. Most of the time, Ivanka and Kushner kept a low profile, even appearing to distance themselves from the campaign. Melania came to the limelight with her book, but Trump only occasionally mentioned her on the campaign trail, and she herself appeared only sporadically with him.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2024-results-live-updates-latest-news-on-2024-presidential-election-donald-trump-vs-kamala-harris-773440">Also read: AS IT HAPPENED | US Election Results 2024: Donald Trump wins presidency with clear mandate</a>

<h2>4. Dodging the bullet in a key swing state</h2>

The biggest moment for Trump's entire campaign was the failed assassination bid on&nbsp;July 13, when he was addressing a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In hindsight, the fact that it happened in Pennsylvania was to his great advantage, with the crucial swing state eventually giving him the electoral college votes that put paid to the election. Trump's fist-pumping and exhortation to the crowd 'fight, fight, fight' later became a rallying cry and campaign slogan/placard sign for his base. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-dont-get-it-moment-polling-nostradamus-realises-his-prediction-of-kamala-harris-win-is-wrong-774169">Also read: 'I don’t get it': Moment ‘polling Nostradamus’ realises his prediction of Kamala Harris' win is wrong</a>

<h2>5. Not talking to liberal press and not&nbsp;depending on celebrity endorsements</h2>

This time, Trump carefully chose who he gave interviews to, almost always avoiding the liberal media. He instead gave a long interview to Joe Rogan, the popular podcaster, and Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host. It helped that former Fox News host Megyn Kelly was by his side and spoke for him at his rallies, giving a different perspective to the stereotype that Trump was disliked by women.

<h2>6. Not taking part in primary debates</h2>

Trump mostly ignored his own party's candidate nomination process, not taking part in the Republican primary debates, instead focusing on holding rallies across the country to activate his base. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, his first major challenger, eventually exited. Those who came up as his potential challengers during the primaries either joined him – like Vivek Ramaswamy – or grudgingly accepted his dominance as the presumptive nominee – like Nikki Haley, who was the holdout until the last minute. Outside the party, the only non-viable yet, potentially vote-cutting, independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr eventually endorsed Trump.

<h2>7. Changing the Republican party to suit him: The Trump takeover</h2>

Over the past years, Trump moulded the Republican party on his own self. Its concerns became the same as his: fight against illegal immigration, upholding conservative values when it came to issues like abortion and transgender rights, advocating the least government intervention including no tax hikes for the upper middle class and the wealthy. He endorsed Republican candidates for Senate, House and governor races, and even some local polls, with most of them going on to win. The icing on the cake was his appointment of a family member as the Republican Party's National Committee. Lara Trump, the former TV producer married to Trump's son Eric, became the RNC co-chair in March, a crowning moment for the Trump takeover of his party.

<h2>8. Appealing to the grassroots, amplifying their fears</h2>

Trump appealed to the overwhelming fears of the white majority about illegal immigration, disruption of the family unit through increasing rights for same-sex unions and transgenders, and perceived threat to deeply held Christian values in much of middle and southern America. As the final electoral results map shows, this helped him cut into the so-called blue states, essentially breaking the votes from north to south in the middle of America, leaving the Democratic contender Kamala Harris with only the more liberal states in the east and west coasts. While Democrats felt abortion was a major issue that would swing women against Trump, it appears that many women disagreed.

<h2>9. Knowing the pulse of working class on immigration, economy</h2>

By amplifying the concerns about slow job growth, illegal migration&nbsp;and urban blight, Trump was able to add more supporters from non-white communities too. Hispanics in the country were equally fearful of the migration caravans coming in from Latin America as much as the white majority. Because one, it disrupted their lives and exposed them to racist attacks. And two, illegal migrants were competition for them. Many Latinos who voted for Trump may have carefully considered these issues before making that decision. With the African American community too, there appears to have been a shift, albeit minor. Those Blacks who voted for Trump were basically doing a protest vote against the Democrats, who they felt appeared to lecture them. Every election season, leaders like Barack Obama and Michelle Obama appeal to the Black community, even as Democratic governments did not make their lives any better. At least that was the perception among the pro-Trump Blacks, who voted in hopes that any improvement in the economy under Trump would help them get jobs.

<h2>10. Not doing too many debates</h2>

Trump never appeared too keen to do presidential debates. The only time he debated Joe Biden (he was the 'original' Democratic presidential candidate, remember?), he came out on top, not by his own performance but because of how incoherent the incumbent president sounded. To his credit, Trump was much more calm and collected when he debated Kamala Harris, a far cry from his aggressive ways during the debates with Hillary Clinton in 2016.

<h2>11. Concentrating on swing states, and getting shot in one of them</h2>

Trump concentrated much of his energies on the seven swing states: Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina. Among these, Georgia and North Carolina with their anti-Black racist history and population dynamics were tough to crack into. Georgia was also the scene of battle of the 2020 election rigging claims by Trump, so it sounded improbable that he would win there. Trump concentrated on these states during his campaign, was shot at in one of them as mentioned earlier, and eventually won or flipped all of them.

<h2>12. Appealing to young voters: TikTok generation loved him</h2>

It might sound improbable, but Trump's non-committal stance on banning TikTok, the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform massively loved by American youth, may have contributed to his appeal among Gen Z. Many TikTokers and TikTok users hated the Biden administration for the ban move. At a desperate moment, Biden himself joined TikTok even amid these moves, but it was far too little, too late. Trump supporters amplified his views and stances on various issues through TikTok as well as other social media apps.

<h2>13. Embracing social media, and Elon Musk</h2>

Trump started Truth Social when his social media accounts, particularly Twitter under the old management, banned his accounts. Over the years, Twitter was taken over by Elon Musk, a 'free-speech absolutist' who did not squirm at any of the white supremacist conspiracies being peddled on the now-rechristened X. Contrary to market pundits' expectations, Truth Social took off massively as the platform to share pro-Trump and Conservative views. When Trump rejected a platform, he created his own.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musks-interview-with-trump-on-x-hit-by-massive-cyberattack-749606">Also read: Donald Trump's interview with Elon Musk on X hit by 'massive' cyberattack</a>

Democrats underestimated the fact that half of the electorate was logged on to a non-legacy platform and getting their information from it. Towards the final lap of his campaign, Musk became an open supporter of Trump and addressed his rallies. For Musk, it was a desperate moment, as he feared Harris, if elected, would have folded up X. Add to this the legacy media's unwillingness to endorse Harris, Los Angeles Times and Washington Post being the most prominent examples.

<h2>14. Having a lot of money</h2>

Money speaks in American politics, and having a lot of it is helpful. Trump practically ran most of his campaign out of his own pocket, with the erstwhile mass donors like super PACs not emerging as key players unlike in past elections. Trump's wealth, fuelled mainly by the growth of Truth Social was listed in stock exchanges in March this year and helped bankroll a major part of his campaign, along with some super donors. Clearly, having the richest man in the world Elon Musk by his side may have helped things too.

<h2>15. A little bit of help from Democrats</h2>

Much more than anything Trump did, it was perhaps the disarray and disunity among Democrats and the often incoherent speeches of both its candidates – Biden and Harris – that probably led many undecided voters to cast their ballots in favour of Trump. 'Chaos' was a favourite word of Trump-bashing media during his presidency, but Democrats became the embodiment of that description this election season.

The first issue was Biden's insistence on seeking another term despite pressure from his own party, a stark contrast with his public appearances and statements that exposed the weak state of his mind and body.

When Kamala Harris was thrust into the campaign, the Democratic primaries had already chosen Biden as their candidate in the primaries. That she did not have to go through the pains of the primaries contest may have alienated even many Democrats, because, let's face it, it ain't fair.

In her short and sprightly campaign, Kamala appeared out of touch with the realities of middle-class America, even as she kept on saying she comes from such a family. Her record as a prosecutor who sent many Blacks to jail did not augur well for her campaign either. 
 
Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

Apart from literally dodging the bullet, there were a number of things Republican Donald Trump did right in his successful bid to return as United States president.

Apart from literally dodging the bullet, there were a number of things Republican Donald Trump did right in his successful bid to return as United States president. Here is a breakdown of the factors that contributed to doing what was deemed impossible: winning the White House for a non-consecutive second term. 1. Early bird gets the votes: Starting campaign before election season Trump's campaign was not months, but years old. He announced his re-election campaign way back in 2022, as soon as the dust settled on the Covid pandemic. He established his campaign team, without allowing any of them to dominate the headlines, unlike people like Kellyanne Conway in his first campaign of 2016, who became the story. In 2024, his comms team was almost invisible, till he called them on stage to thank them during his victory speech on the night of November 5. Susie Wiles, who will now become his chief of staff, is one among them. Also read: Trump 2.0 cabinet: Who is Susie Wiles, the 'ice maiden' and first woman White House chief of staff? 2. Playing victim card on legal troubles There was an appearance that the Democratic regime was trying to send Trump to jail over a number of cases: election subversion related to the Capitol riots of 6 January 2021, tax-related lawsuits and the Stormy Daniels affair being prominent among them. But each court appearance made him a star in the eyes of his supporters, who only grew in numbers as the cases dragged on. Trump called it a 'witch hunt', as it was pretty clear that none of these would lead to any logical conclusion, for fear of upsetting presidential immunity. Had Trump been jailed (if he lost the election), that would have set the precedent of future governments prosecuting past presidents. Trump played the victim card to the hilt, which appears to have appealed to more voters than Democrats expected. Watch: US Elections 2024: Tracking 'Moments' Leading To Trump 2.0 × 3. Not involving his family: It was always 'I, me, myself' Trump's family – particularly his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner – were hounded with disparaging stories in the liberal media throughout his presidency of 2016-2020. This time around, he appears to have taken a conscious decision not to foreground his family. Most of the time, Ivanka and Kushner kept a low profile, even appearing to distance themselves from the campaign. Melania came to the limelight with her book, but Trump only occasionally mentioned her on the campaign trail, and she herself appeared only sporadically with him. Also read: AS IT HAPPENED | US Election Results 2024: Donald Trump wins presidency with clear mandate 4. Dodging the bullet in a key swing state The biggest moment for Trump's entire campaign was the failed assassination bid on July 13, when he was addressing a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In hindsight, the fact that it happened in Pennsylvania was to his great advantage, with the crucial swing state eventually giving him the electoral college votes that put paid to the election. Trump's fist-pumping and exhortation to the crowd 'fight, fight, fight' later became a rallying cry and campaign slogan/placard sign for his base. Also read: 'I don’t get it': Moment ‘polling Nostradamus’ realises his prediction of Kamala Harris' win is wrong 5. Not talking to liberal press and not depending on celebrity endorsements This time, Trump carefully chose who he gave interviews to, almost always avoiding the liberal media. He instead gave a long interview to Joe Rogan, the popular podcaster, and Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host. It helped that former Fox News host Megyn Kelly was by his side and spoke for him at his rallies, giving a different perspective to the stereotype that Trump was disliked by women. 6. Not taking part in primary debates Trump mostly ignored his own party's candidate nomination process, not taking part in the Republican primary debates, instead focusing on holding rallies across the country to activate his base. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, his first major challenger, eventually exited. Those who came up as his potential challengers during the primaries either joined him – like Vivek Ramaswamy – or grudgingly accepted his dominance as the presumptive nominee – like Nikki Haley, who was the holdout until the last minute. Outside the party, the only non-viable yet, potentially vote-cutting, independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr eventually endorsed Trump. 7. Changing the Republican party to suit him: The Trump takeover Over the past years, Trump moulded the Republican party on his own self. Its concerns became the same as his: fight against illegal immigration, upholding conservative values when it came to issues like abortion and transgender rights, advocating the least government intervention including no tax hikes for the upper middle class and the wealthy. He endorsed Republican candidates for Senate, House and governor races, and even some local polls, with most of them going on to win. The icing on the cake was his appointment of a family member as the Republican Party's National Committee. Lara Trump, the former TV producer married to Trump's son Eric, became the RNC co-chair in March, a crowning moment for the Trump takeover of his party. 8. Appealing to the grassroots, amplifying their fears Trump appealed to the overwhelming fears of the white majority about illegal immigration, disruption of the family unit through increasing rights for same-sex unions and transgenders, and perceived threat to deeply held Christian values in much of middle and southern America. As the final electoral results map shows, this helped him cut into the so-called blue states, essentially breaking the votes from north to south in the middle of America, leaving the Democratic contender Kamala Harris with only the more liberal states in the east and west coasts. While Democrats felt abortion was a major issue that would swing women against Trump, it appears that many women disagreed. 9. Knowing the pulse of working class on immigration, economy By amplifying the concerns about slow job growth, illegal migration and urban blight, Trump was able to add more supporters from non-white communities too. Hispanics in the country were equally fearful of the migration caravans coming in from Latin America as much as the white majority. Because one, it disrupted their lives and exposed them to racist attacks. And two, illegal migrants were competition for them. Many Latinos who voted for Trump may have carefully considered these issues before making that decision. With the African American community too, there appears to have been a shift, albeit minor. Those Blacks who voted for Trump were basically doing a protest vote against the Democrats, who they felt appeared to lecture them. Every election season, leaders like Barack Obama and Michelle Obama appeal to the Black community, even as Democratic governments did not make their lives any better. At least that was the perception among the pro-Trump Blacks, who voted in hopes that any improvement in the economy under Trump would help them get jobs. 10. Not doing too many debates Trump never appeared too keen to do presidential debates. The only time he debated Joe Biden (he was the 'original' Democratic presidential candidate, remember?), he came out on top, not by his own performance but because of how incoherent the incumbent president sounded. To his credit, Trump was much more calm and collected when he debated Kamala Harris, a far cry from his aggressive ways during the debates with Hillary Clinton in 2016. 11. Concentrating on swing states, and getting shot in one of them Trump concentrated much of his energies on the seven swing states: Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina. Among these, Georgia and North Carolina with their anti-Black racist history and population dynamics were tough to crack into. Georgia was also the scene of battle of the 2020 election rigging claims by Trump, so it sounded improbable that he would win there. Trump concentrated on these states during his campaign, was shot at in one of them as mentioned earlier, and eventually won or flipped all of them. 12. Appealing to young voters: TikTok generation loved him It might sound improbable, but Trump's non-committal stance on banning TikTok, the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform massively loved by American youth, may have contributed to his appeal among Gen Z. Many TikTokers and TikTok users hated the Biden administration for the ban move. At a desperate moment, Biden himself joined TikTok even amid these moves, but it was far too little, too late. Trump supporters amplified his views and stances on various issues through TikTok as well as other social media apps. 13. Embracing social media, and Elon Musk Trump started Truth Social when his social media accounts, particularly Twitter under the old management, banned his accounts. Over the years, Twitter was taken over by Elon Musk, a 'free-speech absolutist' who did not squirm at any of the white supremacist conspiracies being peddled on the now-rechristened X. Contrary to market pundits' expectations, Truth Social took off massively as the platform to share pro-Trump and Conservative views. When Trump rejected a platform, he created his own. Also read: Donald Trump's interview with Elon Musk on X hit by 'massive' cyberattack Democrats underestimated the fact that half of the electorate was logged on to a non-legacy platform and getting their information from it. Towards the final lap of his campaign, Musk became an open supporter of Trump and addressed his rallies. For Musk, it was a desperate moment, as he feared Harris, if elected, would have folded up X. Add to this the legacy media's unwillingness to endorse Harris, Los Angeles Times and Washington Post being the most prominent examples. 14. Having a lot of money Money speaks in American politics, and having a lot of it is helpful. Trump practically ran most of his campaign out of his own pocket, with the erstwhile mass donors like super PACs not emerging as key players unlike in past elections. Trump's wealth, fuelled mainly by the growth of Truth Social was listed in stock exchanges in March this year and helped bankroll a major part of his campaign, along with some super donors. Clearly, having the richest man in the world Elon Musk by his side may have helped things too. 15. A little bit of help from Democrats Much more than anything Trump did, it was perhaps the disarray and disunity among Democrats and the often incoherent speeches of both its candidates – Biden and Harris – that probably led many undecided voters to cast their ballots in favour of Trump. 'Chaos' was a favourite word of Trump-bashing media during his presidency, but Democrats became the embodiment of that description this election season. The first issue was Biden's insistence on seeking another term despite pressure from his own party, a stark contrast with his public appearances and statements that exposed the weak state of his mind and body. When Kamala Harris was thrust into the campaign, the Democratic primaries had already chosen Biden as their candidate in the primaries. That she did not have to go through the pains of the primaries contest may have alienated even many Democrats, because, let's face it, it ain't fair. In her short and sprightly campaign, Kamala appeared out of touch with the realities of middle-class America, even as she kept on saying she comes from such a family. Her record as a prosecutor who sent many Blacks to jail did not augur well for her campaign either. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

US elections 2024 analysis: How Trump won against Harris - 15 things his campaign got right

In a bid to overhaul two buildings of the former Yugoslav People's Army headquarter in Belgrade, Serbia has struck a deal with the former US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner's investment firm.

Serbia leases ex-army headquarter in Belgrade to Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner

A trump family member and his links to West Asia is making news. Jared Kushner's private equity firm has signed a deal with a company connected to the Israeli Defence industry...Watch in for more details!

Gulf states investing in Israel? | The Jared Kushner Gulf-Israel link | West Asia

Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is set to build a tourist Resort in Albania's Laura town. The move is being opposed by the locals and environmentalists of the protected land on Albania's southern coast. Watch in for more details!

Environmentalists concerned over Kushner's resort plans

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