Latest news with #WitkoffGroup
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Trump and the Club World Cup final VIPs: A guide to the politicians, sports stars and tycoons at MetLife Stadium
It was the sporting event that felt almost like a presidential inauguration. A remarkable list of VIPs filed into MetLife Stadium on Sunday to witness Chelsea's defeat of Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup final, and many of them were not connected to soccer. President Donald Trump and the First Lady, Melania, may have been the focus of attention but this is a brief guide to the other politicians, celebrities and business tycoons who were more than happy to accept an invite. Gianni Infantino is arguably the most influential man in football. The Swiss-Italian is president of FIFA, the sport's world governing body, stepping into this role in 2016. A lawyer by trade, he also previously held high-ranking roles at UEFA. He's enjoyed a close relationship with Trump in recent years, with FIFA this week announcing they opened an office at Trump Tower as they prepare for next year's World Cup. Infantino was seen in Trump's box at the Club World Cup alongside his wife, Leena Al Ashqar. Steve Witkoff is the United States special enjoy to the Middle East. He's an American lawyer and real estate investor, best known as founder and chairman of his namesake real estate development firm Witkoff Group. Ahead of kickoff, Witkoff made headlines after he told reporters at Teterboro Airport that he's 'hopeful' about Gaza negotiations, and that he plans to meet with Qatari officials on the sidelines of the Club World Cup this afternoon. Advertisement Jared Kushner is President Trump's son-in-law, married to Ivanka Trump. The businessman and investor previously served as a senior adviser in Trump's previous administration. He took over his family's real estate business, the Kushner Companies, after his father, Charles, was convicted for 18 criminal charges in 2005. In 2020, Trump pardoned him. Donald Trump Jr. is the eldest son of President Trump and first wife Ivana. The 47-year-old businessman is an outspoken supporter of his father and serves as trustee and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, which he runs with his younger brother Eric. Trump Jr. was accompanied on Sunday afternoon with Florida socialite Bettina Anderson, who he reportedly started dating last year. Michael Boulos is married to Tiffany Trump, another of President Trump's children and the only daughter he shared with ex-wife Marla Maples. Boulous is the son of billionaire Massad Boulous, an American-Lebanese businessman and Trump's senior advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Boris Epshteyn is a longtime ally of President Trump. He's served as the personal senior counsel to Trump since January and was previously a strategic advisor on Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2020. Last year, he was accused of seeking payments from people to promote them for roles in Trump's then-incoming administration. Pam Bondi is the United States attorney general. She assumed office in February and has deep ties to Trump. The lawyer previously was part of Trump's defense team during his first impeachment trial, and she also led the legal arm of the right-wing think tank, America First Policy Institute. She attended alongside husband John Wakefield. Don Garber is the longtime commissioner of Major League Soccer, having served in this role since 1999. He's considered one of the most influential people in American soccer, and also serves as CEO of Soccer United Marketing, the marketing arm of MLS. He is best known for his time in soccer, but in a past life spent 16 years with the NFL. Woody Johnson is the owner of the NFL's New York Jets, one of the main tenants of MetLife Stadium. Formally known as Robert Wood Johnson IV, he is the great grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I and an heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune. He is a longtime donor to the Republican party, and supporter of Trump. Under Trump, he served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021. He recently became an investor in Premier League club Crystal Palace. Tom Brady is considered the greatest NFL quarterback of all time. He played for 23 seasons, with 20 of those years spent with the New England Patriots. He ended his career, though, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, retiring (for a second time) in 2023. He briefly retired in 2022, but changed his mind after 40 days. In 2023, he bought a stake in English soccer team Birmingham City Football Club. Michael Rubin is an American businessman best known as founder and CEO of Fanatics, which has a close working relationship with FIFA. FIFA has a prominent showing at Fanatics Fest in New York City earlier this tournament, with the governing body enjoying some serious floorspace at the Javits Center. FIFA president Gianni Infantino also made a guest appearance there, with their partnership only likely to grow for 2026. Nasser Al-Khelaifi has served as president of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club since 2011, following his appointment as Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments, which acquired ownership of the club that year. He hold various roles across football, including sitting on the board of France's Ligue de Football Professionnel and is a member of UEFA's Executive Committee. The Qatari businessman is a former professional tennis player, and serves as chairman of beIN Media Group. Advertisement A member of Qatar's royal family, Sheikh Hamad Khalifa Al Thani was the ruling Emir of Qatar from 1995 until 2013, when he handed power to his son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Moutaz Al-Khayyat is a Qatari businessman based in Doha best known as chairman of Power International Holding and UCC Holding. His brother, Ramez Al-Khayyat, is also president and GCEO of Power International Holding, which was listed by Forbes in the Middle East's Top 100 Arab Family Businesses. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is an Ethiopian public health official, researcher and diplomat and the Director-General of the World Health Organization. He's been in this role since 2017 and was the first African to serve in this capacity. Behdad Eghbali is an Iranian-American billionaire businessman and co-founder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, the private equity firm that, along with Todd Boehly, co-owns Chelsea Football Club. Boehly also co-owns the MLB team Los Angeles Dodgers and NBA franchise Los Angeles Lakers. Trump was also pictured with a host of soccer A-listers before the final, including former France and Chelsea stars Didier Deschamps andMarcel Desailly, former Italy internationals Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero and Marco Materazzi, ex-Brazil players Ronaldo and Kaka and Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Witkoff and Araghchi: the men leading US-Iran nuclear talks
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will be in Oman for breakthrough talks on Tehran's nuclear programme this weekend. Here are short profiles of the two negotiators: - Witkoff: real estate to world stage - With no prior experience in foreign policy, he landed one of the world's biggest jobs as US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, and has since led high-stakes talks on Gaza and Ukraine. Real estate magnate Steve Witkoff first stepped into the spotlight when his close friend Trump credited him with sealing a truce in the Israel-Hamas war. While the ceasefire collapsed weeks later, it did enable the release of 25 living hostages and the return of eight others' remains. Witkoff, a 68-year-old billionaire and a regular golfing partner of Trump's, later became the first US official to visit Gaza since the war began with Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel. He defended Trump's stunning suggestion that he wanted to "take over" the Palestinian territory and move out its two million inhabitants. "When the president talks about cleaning it out, he talks about making it habitable, and this is a long-range plan," Witkoff told reporters at the White House. Witkoff has also spearheaded negotiations on Ukraine, with Trump U-turning on his predecessor Joe Biden's policy on Russia. He was in Russia to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin when a scandal erupted over a leaked Yemen air strike chat on the Signal app that involved National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and other officials. Witkoff himself has drawn criticism from Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky over his praise for Putin and for appearing to legitimise Russia's annexation of parts of Ukraine. In March, he was Trump's man in Saudi Arabia for talks on Ukraine, voicing optimism that any agreement struck could pave the way for a "full-on" ceasefire. Trump has made it a foreign policy goal to end wars that Biden could not stop, meaning that the stakes could hardly be higher for Witkoff. Ultimately, Witkoff's win in Gaza was short-lived, with US ally Israel restarting intense strikes on March 18. On Ukraine, the Russian president has yet to accept a long-term truce. Born on March 15, 1957, in the New York borough of the Bronx, Witkoff made his fortune in real estate, first as a corporate lawyer and then at the head of big realty firms. In 1997, he founded the Witkoff Group, which describes itself as "one part developer, one part investor (and) one part landscape-changer." His wife and a son work there. - Araghchi: Iran's career diplomat - A career diplomat and key architect of the 2015 nuclear accord, Araghchi will be pushing the United States to lift its punishing sanctions on Iran. The 62-year-old, who hails from a family of carpet traders, is fluent in English and has a long career spanning multiple roles in Iran's foreign ministry. With his crisp beard and salt-and-pepper hair, Araghchi is known for his calm demeanour. He typically wears a suit and a tie-less white mandarin-collared shirt, a standard look among Iranian diplomats. He holds a bachelor's degree from the foreign ministry's Faculty of International Relations, a master's in political science from the Islamic Azad University, and a doctorate in political thought from the University of Kent in England. Following the 1979 Islamic revolution, Araghchi joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He served on the front lines during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s before joining the foreign ministry as an expert on international affairs. Araghchi was appointed foreign minister after President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has called for reviving talks with the West, took office in July. He was the chief negotiator at the talks that culminated in the 2015 landmark nuclear deal with world powers, which imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) fell apart after the United States, during Donald Trump's first term, unilaterally withdrew from it and reimposed sweeping economic sanctions. Araghchi remains a fervent supporter of the deal but said in a recent interview with Khabar Online news agency that the JCPOA "cannot be revived in its current form and text." "Our nuclear programme has advanced significantly and we can no longer return to the conditions of the JCPOA," he said, adding that the deal "can still be a basis and a model for negotiations". burs-ser-mz/
Roya News
08-04-2025
- Business
- Roya News
From real estate mogul to peace broker, who is Steve Witkoff?
Steve Witkoff, a Jewish real estate mogul and philanthropist, has emerged as a significant player in global diplomacy, tasked with brokering peace in two of the world's most volatile regions: Ukraine and the Middle East. But how did a man whose career was built on luxury properties and high-end developments become one of Donald Trump's most trusted international envoys? A real estate legacy and close ties with Trump Witkoff, born and raised in the Bronx, New York, initially pursued a career in law before pivoting to real estate. He founded the Witkoff Group, a real estate firm known for luxury developments, including the Park Lane Hotel in New York and the iconic Woolworth Building. His rapid rise in the real estate industry made him one of New York's most influential businessmen. Witkoff's relationship with Donald Trump dates back to the 1980s when they first met through the real estate industry. Their connection deepened, particularly through their shared love of golf. Over the years, the two became close allies, with Witkoff emerging as a major donor to Trump's presidential campaigns. It was Trump's praise for Witkoff's business acumen and his strong commitment to 'Israel' that ultimately led to Witkoff's appointment as the US Special Envoy to the Middle East in 2024, despite his lack of formal diplomatic experience. Brokering peace in the Middle East Witkoff's role as Special Envoy has been controversial. Critics argue that his real estate background, rather than a diplomatic one, makes him ill-equipped to handle the sensitive and complex issues at stake in the Middle East. Nonetheless, his appointment is part of Trump's broader strategy to reshape US foreign policy in the region. Witkoff has garnered praise for his ability to engage with Israeli leadership, even reportedly convincing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to break his observance of the Sabbath for an urgent meeting. While this was seen as a significant diplomatic achievement, it also highlighted Witkoff's unorthodox approach to diplomacy, often blurring the lines between personal relationships and statecraft. Some of Witkoff's proposals have raised significant concerns. One of the most controversial was his suggestion to develop Gaza into a luxury resort, an idea that many critics considered tone-deaf given the region's ongoing humanitarian crisis. Despite these critiques, Witkoff's close ties to both Trump and Netanyahu have helped secure his influence in these high-stakes negotiations. A key player in Ukraine Witkoff's diplomatic efforts are not confined to the Middle East. In 2024, he also played a role in mediating peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Witkoff engaged in multiple meetings with Russian officials and reportedly gained the trust of President Vladimir Putin. Though his lack of experience in Eastern European politics raised questions, Witkoff's financial resources and vast network have made him an influential figure on the global stage. His involvement in Ukraine has been met with skepticism, particularly given his business interests and his close ties to Trump. Critics question whether his motivations are driven by personal gain or a genuine desire for peace. Nevertheless, Witkoff defends his role, stating that his pragmatic approach seeks stability and a return to normalcy in a region ravaged by conflict. Personal relationships and the role of business in diplomacy
Sky News
12-03-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Steve Witkoff: Who is the real estate mogul tasked with brokering peace in Ukraine?
As the world waits for Russia's next move over the US-proposed ceasefire deal with Ukraine, only one man has been trusted to head up Donald Trump's envoy to Moscow - and he's far from the typical diplomat. Initially named as Mr Trump's Middle East envoy shortly after the US election, Steve Witkoff has since been involved in negotiations with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine. His surprise trip to Moscow last month to achieve the release of US citizen Marc Fogel seemed to secure the 67-year-old as the US leader's geopolitical dealmaker-in-chief. Off the back of his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Witkoff is believed to be seeing him again later this week to discuss diplomatic proposals - though the Kremlin is yet to confirm this. He has been chosen to go to Moscow by Mr Trump over US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who on paper is the country's top diplomat, and Keith Kellogg, who was assigned to be the US envoy for Russia-Ukraine peace talks back in January. So who is Steve Witkoff, and how important a figure will he be as the US tries to navigate peace between Russia and Ukraine? 0:34 From New York real estate to the Oval Office Born in the Bronx, New York State, Mr Witkoff trained as a lawyer in real estate before turning his hand to property development. In the 1990s he created his company, the Witkoff Group, which owns a number of properties in New York, most notably the Park Lane Hotel and The Woolworth Building. Similarly to Mr Trump, he brought his close family members into his company, including his wife, Lauren Rappoport, and their sons Zach and Alexander, who is co-chief executive. As of 2019, the Witkoff Group owned almost 50 properties across the US and the rest of the world. 1:06 'My dear friend President Trump' The billionaire has known Mr Trump for decades, having first met him through a New York real estate company where the now president was a client. Having remained close, the pair bonded over their mutual love of golf, and weredescribed by US senator Lindsey Graham as "longtime golf buddies". Mr Witkoff was one of those on the fifth hole with the president at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September last year, when a second apparent assassination attempt was made on his life. But despite being regular opponents on the course, Mr Witkoff and Mr Trump are very much aligned in politics, with the businessman having donated to the Republican Party during the 2024 election. He even spoke at the Republican National Convention back in July last year, where he said he had the "privilege" of calling Mr Trump a "true and dear friend for many years, in good times and bad times". Mr Witkoff also firmly backed Mr Trump's foreign policy, saying at the inauguration parade: "We are done carrying the financial burden of nations that are unwilling to fund their own progress. "The days of blank checks are over". 👉 Follow Trump 100 on your podcast app 👈 A critical player in Middle East negotiations During Mr Trump's first term in office, Mr Witkoff played a more minor role, serving as one of the president's Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups - which aimed to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was over lunch with Mr Trump after his second election win that Mr Witkoff reportedly broached the idea of working on the Middle East - a region he has extensive business ties with, according to NBC. "That stunned me because I didn't know he was that interested in the Middle East," Senator Graham told NBC back in January, while discussing Mr Witkoff's appointment. "And Trump looked at me and said: 'Well, a million people have tried. Let's pick a nice guy who's a smart guy'." Since the beginning of the year, Mr Witkoff has proven to be a critical player in negotiations between Israel and Hamas - helping to secure January's ceasefire deal which has so far seen the release of some of the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. One person familiar with the negotiations described Mr Witkoff to NBC as someone who is "very much engaged" with "his heart is in the right place". A Middle Eastern diplomat, who spoke with NBC on condition of anonymity at the time, added that the businessman was a tough negotiator but was also able to "empathise" with parents who have lost their children on both sides of the conflict, as he openly spoke about his son Andrew, who died of an OxyContin overdose in 2011 aged 22. Growing criticism Despite praise for Mr Witkoff's approach to geopolitics, there is also growing criticism against him. Shortly after his visit to Gaza back in January, he backed Mr Trump's surprise announcement that the US wanted to "develop" the region and turn it into the "Riviera of the Middle East". Mr Trump suggested that Gaza's two million people would not return to their territory under the plans, which has been widely criticised as amounting to ethnic cleansing. Mr Witkoff also faces questions over his first private meeting with President Putin last month, in which he said he had developed a "friendship" with the Russian leader. Speaking about his relationship with Mr Putin, he said: "I spent a lot of time with Putin. Talking and developing a friendship and relationship with him…" He claimed their conversation lasted over three hours. However, the details of the conversation and what was discussed have never been released, with only translators present at the time.
