President Donald J. Trump announced Thursday, February 19, 2026, that his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, would receive an “envoy of peace” designation during the inaugural Board of Peace meeting, placing him on par with Steve Witkoff.
“We’re making Jared an envoy also, envoy of peace. They’re both envoys of peace,” Trump said while addressing the gathering.
Kushner’s elevation formalizes his ongoing role in international diplomacy, including his work on the Abraham Accords and other Middle Eastern negotiations. Witkoff earned acclaim as the architect of a short-term initial ceasefire between Israel and Hamas during the presidential transition. Both men were recently in Geneva, Switzerland, for indirect talks with Iran regarding the cessation of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. While Iran’s foreign minister claimed a preliminary understanding was reached, Kushner and Witkoff have declined to comment on the discussions.
During his speech at the Board of Peace, Trump intensified pressure on the Iranian regime by giving it ten days to reach a deal with the United States. In recent days, U.S. military forces have conducted a significant buildup in the Middle East—a move not seen since the 2003 invasion of Iraq—providing the administration with strike options should negotiations fail.
