Whispers from the White House: How Jared Kushner Might Have Skipped Taxes
In a tale that turned the desks of reporters into a labyrinth of numbers, New York Times whispered that Jared Kushner—President Trump’s son‑in‑law and a senior advisor—could’ve paid little to no federal income tax from 2009 through 2016. The scoop came from confidential records handed over by the very firm that was eyeing a loan for him.
The “Depreciation” Deception
According to the documents, Kushner’s tax fate was largely tied to a tool called depreciation. It’s a classic real‑estate trick: owners can shave off a chunk of the property’s purchase price from taxable income, effectively keeping the cash in their pockets.
Surprisingly, no part of these papers screamed “illegal activity.” The Times emphasized that nothing suggests Mr. Kushner or his company broke a law.
Legal Shield and Whispered Defenses
Peter Mirijanian, the spokedman for Kushner’s lawyer Abbe Lowell, brushed past the story. He blasted the paper’s “assumptions” out of the park, labeling them “incomplete documents obtained in violation of the law and standard business confidentiality agreements.”
He added with a wry smile, “Always following the advice of numerous attorneys and accountants, Mr. Kushner properly filed and paid all taxes due under the law and regulations.”
The Numbers That Make You Scratch Your Head
- For most years, both “income taxes payable” and “prepaid taxes” were listed as zero.
- The only year that broke the silence was 2013, with a reported payable of $1.1 million (roughly S$1.52 million).
These figures are essentially estimates—how much he owed and how much he supposedly prepaid. The real amounts never made it into the public eye.
When Business Meets Politics
“Kushner Cos,” the family conglomerate where Jared once roamed as CEO, remained a profit‑maker in recent years. However, he sold his stake to a trust last year—perhaps to keep things tidy.
The White House and Kushner Cos didn’t fire back that day. Meanwhile, the 2017 tax overhaul inked by Trump offered perks for folks like Jared, blessing real‑estate investors.
Political Whispers and Ethical Packages
Mirijanian quipped that on tax reforms, Jared stuck to an approved ethics agreement and avoided any “conflict of interest.” Yet, in December, a band of Democratic lawmakers sent a letter asking if Jared ever talked about financing a heavily indebted Midtown Manhattan property—raising eyebrows over potential financial clout.
The Portfolio: A High‑Roller Playbook
With over $2.5 billion in transactions in 2017 and a whopping 12 million square feet under development across New York and New Jersey, Kushner Cos is a real estate behemoth.
A June White House disclosure revealed Jared hitched on assets worth at least $181 million, while he and Ivanka Trump nabbed at least $82 million in outside income during the same year.
So, as the headlines swirl, it’s less about criminal intent and more about tax strategies that keep the funds flowing—whether or not that’s by design or by negligence. One thing’s certain: navigating the intersection of politics and paperwork feels like a game of hide‑and‑seek. And who’s hiding? Everyone, apparently.
