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Billionaire and Trump Sender Steve Witkoff together with Foreign Minister Marco Rubio in the White House in Washington DC last week.
1/2foto: Alex Brandon/AP/TT
In 1986 he bought a sandwich for Donald Trump who forgot his wallet – and the friendship was a fact. Now Steve Witkoff will solve some of the world’s most difficult conflicts.
At the center of US foreign policy stands a golfing real estate billionaire with close ties to President Trump, but without diplomatic experience.
When Donald Trump wanted to start talks with Vladimir Putin last week, it was not the Foreign Minister who was sent to Moscow. Instead, it became the Middle Eastern Conductor Steve Witkoff, a 67-year-old property magnate completely without a diplomatic background, which according to Trump hung with Putin “for about three hours”.
And when American and Russian representatives met in Saudi Arabia about the Ukraine War this week, it was Witkoff who was in Riyad. Ukrainian signature Keith Kellogg had to settle for NATO and EU meetings in Brussels and Paris.
Donated millions
Trump and Witkoff have been close friends for almost 40 years, a friendship that is largely said to have been shaped on the golf course. When Trump was shot during a golf round in Florida in September, Witkoff was at his side.
The 67-year-old, who according to Forbes has a wealth equivalent to at least SEK 10 billion, has, according to US media, donated the equivalent of over SEK 21 million to Trump’s political investments. Witkoff is also said to have acted as a peace broker between Trump and rival Republicans for his presidential campaign.
Formally, the Witkoff has the role of the Trump Government’s Middle Eastern Rending agent. Among other things, he is said to have played a crucial role in the conversations that led to the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza – even though he has not yet taken up his post.
Can talk to Iran
Acquaintances say that the lawyer and the philanthropist from New York are an iron hand in a velvet glove, Axios writes: seemingly a soft and polite negotiator, but under the surface ruthlessly determined. Israeli officials have described him as “energetic and informal” – some days he appeared to the Gaza negotiations in Doha in soft pants and sneakers, according to the news site.
Exactly where Witkoff is in the Ukraine issue is unclear. In interviews, he has said he followed President Trump’s instructions, reports The Washington Post, but declined to comment on whether Kiev will have to give up territory as part of a possible peace agreement.
The property magnate is also reported to be Trump’s election for potential conversations about a new nuclear agreement with Iran later this year.
“The president sees Steve as one of the world’s best negotiators,” a white house official told Axios.
Factaste Witkoff
Steven Charles Witkoff was born in 1957 in Bronx, New York and grew up on Long Island in the state of New York.
Studied law at Hofstra University and began his career as a real estate lawyer. Later became a billionaire by developing and investing in real estate.
Dad of three children, one of whom died in an Oxycontinöverdos 2011.
In November 2024, Witkoff was named President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East.
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