Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former President Donald Trump, recently faced a wave of criticism on social media following her praise of her husband, Jared Kushner, on X (formerly known as Twitter). In a post lauding Kushner's "determined optimist" attitude, as showcased in his discussion with podcaster Lex Fridman, Ivanka described Kushner as someone who "firmly believes that there's always a solution if you're willing to try enough paths." This post, however, attracted significant backlash, with critics highlighting the privileges stemming from the couple's wealthy backgrounds.
The controversy was fueled by Kushner's own words during his interview with Fridman, recorded in October 2023. Kushner spoke about his belief in perseverance and the ability to overcome challenges through sheer determination. "I'll read everything I can get my hands on. If I fail at one thing, if the door closes, I'll try the window. If the window closes, I'll try the chimney. If the chimney closes, I'll try to dig a tunnel. It's just, if you want to accomplish something, you just have to go at it," he stated.
However, this perspective did not sit well with many on social media, who were quick to point out the couple's affluent upbringing and the opportunities it afforded them. One user remarked, "You live in a fantasy world - You will never wash the insurrectionist stink off you no matter how hard you try," while another commented on Kushner's affluent family background, questioning the self-made narrative.
Donald Trump's estranged niece, Mary Trump, also joined the fray, seemingly referencing Kushner's financial dealings with Saudi Arabia post-White House. She tweeted, "There's nothing like 2 billion dollars in Saudi blood money to keep you optimistic." This was in reference to Kushner's firm, Affinity Partners, which secured a $2 billion funding from the Saudi government, a move that raised eyebrows given Kushner's involvement in Middle East policy during the Trump administration.
The Wall Street Journal reported in August that Kushner's firm had been collecting "tens of millions in management fees each year," without making any significant investments. Kushner defended this by stating that "Deployment has been slower than expected because we maintained high standards," and that he was pleased with the firm's cautious approach.
This situation has led to further criticism from various quarters. Brian Brewer, an X user, joked about the moral dilemmas such a large sum could pose, while Bradley P. Moss pointed out the couple's privileged background, saying, "Two nepotism babies born with 24-carat gold spoons in their mouths, who went into their daddy's businesses instead of getting real jobs, and who are now funded by $2 billion in Saudi money, want to tell you about how to be successful."
The backlash Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are facing highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding their public personas and business dealings, especially in the context of their privileged backgrounds and political connections.
