Hunter Biden criticized Jared Kushner after reports that Saudi Arabia paid Kushner $100 million and invested $2 billion in his firm as a U.S. administration pushed a new nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia. Biden mocked the focus on his own art sales, which previously drew ethics scrutiny and were priced between $75,000 and $500,000. Lawmakers, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, have opened probes into whether Kushner’s private investments intersected with his diplomatic efforts, while the White House denies conflict-of-interest allegations.
Hunter Biden Calls Out Kushner’s $2B Saudi Investment as Trump Secures Nuclear Deal — "But What About My Paintings?"
Donald Trump and Jared Kushner
Hunter Biden on Thursday sharply criticized Jared Kushner over reports that Saudi Arabia paid the former presidential adviser $100 million and invested $2 billion in his private firm as the Trump administration advanced a new nuclear agreement with Riyadh.
"Jared Kushner holds no government position. Yet he is our Middle East Envoy," Biden wrote on social media. "The Saudis have paid him $100M and invested $2B in his firm. He pushed for Saudi nuclear enrichment over the objection of national security officials. Today his father-in-law made it happen. But what about my paintings…"
The comment referenced renewed attention to ethics questions that surrounded sales of Hunter Biden's artwork during President Joe Biden's administration. The Washington Post noted in July 2021 that the planned art sales raised concerns because prices were high, buyers were not publicly identified and works in the art market can lack a fixed, objective value.
"[Hunter] Biden's art sale, expected to take place this fall, comes with potential challenges. Not only has Biden previously been accused of trading in on his father's name, but his latest vocation is in a field where works do not have a tangible fixed value and where concerns have arisen about secretive buyers and undisclosed sums." — The Washington Post (July 2021)
At the time, pieces by Hunter Biden were listed in price ranges from $75,000 to $500,000, drawing criticism from ethics experts. Ethics lawyer Richard Painter warned the public could perceive the sales as exploiting a presidential family connection.
Separately, lawmakers have scrutinized Jared Kushner’s business ties and diplomatic role. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) opened an investigation in April into possible links between Kushner’s diplomatic activities in the Middle East and his private investment interests. Iranian officials have also accused Kushner and his associate Steve Witkoff of prioritizing financial gain from insider knowledge of negotiations.
The White House has denied that Kushner’s work involved conflicts of interest. Questions about private investments, diplomatic influence and transparency continue to animate debates in Washington as the Saudi nuclear agreement advances.
Why It Matters: The exchange highlights ongoing concerns about the intersection of private business interests and diplomacy, public perceptions of influence, and how ethical scrutiny differs depending on individuals’ roles and family ties in politics.
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