Full Breakdown
The Alleged Dutch Surveillance of Jared Kushner’s iPhone and Secret Gulf Money Links
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
A forthcoming book excerpt, reported by journalist Matthew Cole, alleges that Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) agents accessed a Russian-run server in early 2018, found screenshots of former senior adviser Jared Kushner’s iPhone, and exploited a vulnerability to view his screen in real time. The surveillance allegedly captured Kushner logging into a United Arab Emirates (UAE) bank account that had received “hundreds of millions of dollars” routed through an Azerbaijani bank, with transfers totaling more than $700 million.
Background & Context
Kushner, a former senior adviser to President Donald Trump, has faced scrutiny for overlapping diplomatic duties and private business interests. His firm, Affinity Partners, secured a $2 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, with a 1.25 percent management fee. Critics argue such foreign capital could create incentives to advance Gulf states’ political objectives while in government.
Data & Statistics
- $700 million+ – transfers into the UAE account observed on Kushner’s phone (as reported by Cole).
- $2 billion – investment from the Saudi Public Investment Fund into Affinity Partners, documented by the Senate Finance Committee.
- 1.25 percent – annual management fee tied to the Saudi investment.
- $157 million – estimate by Senator Ron Wyden of fees that could be earned from foreign clients, based on the same committee data.
Official Statements & Responses
- Kushner’s camp – Kushner’s lawyer asserted that Kushner broke no laws, has no link to any UAE account, and that the alleged accounts never existed. Kushner posted on X that the book’s claims are “categorically false” and “outrageous fabrications.”
- Dutch intelligence – The MIVD declined to comment on operational details, citing its policy of not discussing methods or sources.
- Former U.S. Ambassador David Friedman – Friedman, named in the book as a messenger between Gulf leaders, denied involvement and called the allegations “100 percent false.”
Criticism & Opposition
Senator Ron Wyden, referencing the Senate Finance Committee’s findings, criticized the lack of profit distribution from Affinity Partners despite the large Saudi investment, suggesting that fees charged to foreign investors could amount to $157 million. He expressed suspicion that Gulf governments might seek political access through such financial arrangements.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The book’s narrative relies on screenshots and alleged real-time monitoring of Kushner’s phone, yet no bank records, wire-transfer documentation, or account numbers have been produced. Kushner’s representatives contend that no such evidence exists. Dutch intelligence has offered no confirmation of the alleged operation, and independent verification of the purported transfers remains absent.
Why It Matters
If verified, the alleged surveillance and undisclosed Gulf-linked accounts would raise questions about foreign influence on U.S. policy during the Trump administration, given Kushner’s role in Middle-East diplomatic initiatives. The accusations have intensified scrutiny of the intersection between high-level political advising and private investment, prompting calls for greater transparency and oversight of foreign money flowing through U.S. political figures.