They’re expected back in Washington this week for a meeting of the Board of Peace — Trump’s personal big-dollar private global diplomacy network. Trump’s hopes for a deal with Iran, as he masses a vast armada within shooting distance, only crawled forward Tuesday. Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty ImagesWitkoff and Kushner’s latest efforts come at a perilous moment for the world and a politically tenuous one for Trump’s presidency. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty ImagesTrump’s impatience also means Witkoff and Kushner are under the kind of pressure that can lead to superficiality. But Trump’s evisceration of the department has deprived his administration of institutional memory and expertise that might have built on any breakthroughs by Kushner and Witkoff.

Source: CNN February 18, 2026 09:31 UTC