In a revealing new interview, Jared Kushner — former senior adviser to Donald Trump — said that Mr. Trump believed the Israeli leadership was “getting a little bit out of control” following an air-strike in Doha, Qatar.
CBS News
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i24NEWS
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The Doha Strike and Its Fallout
On September 9, 2025, Israeli forces carried out an attack in Doha aimed at senior figures of Hamas during peace-negotiations. The strike killed several individuals and significantly strained relations between Israel, Qatar, and the United States.
TIME
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Reuters
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In his comments, Kushner described how Mr. Trump reacted to the strike:
“I think he felt like the Israelis were getting a little bit out of control in what they were doing, and that it was time to be very strong and stop them from doing things that he felt were not in their long-term interests.”
i24NEWS
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Kushner added that both he and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff felt “a little bit betrayed” by the strike, which undermined the cease-fire talks with Hamas that Qatar was mediating.
The Times of Israel
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Why the U.S. Felt Undermined
When the Israeli strike was carried out, the U.S. was actively working through Qatar and other regional partners — Egypt and Turkey among them — to secure a hostage deal and a cease-fire in the Gaza war. The strike disrupted that process.
Witkoff said:
“It had a metastasizing effect because the Qataris were critical to the negotiation … We had lost the confidence of the Qataris. And so Hamas went underground, and it was very, very difficult to get to them.”
The Times of Israel
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The U.S. White House later confirmed that President Trump felt “very badly” about the incident and apparently ordered a warning be sent to Qatar before the strike.
Reuters
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Implications for U.S.–Israel Relations
Kushner’s remarks signal a rare public distancing of the U.S. from Israel’s military action — especially one that targeted a U.S. ally and mediator in the Gulf. It points to a change in how the Trump administration might handle the Israel-Hamas conflict, placing greater emphasis on diplomatic channels and regional partners.
The episode shows that even strong alliances can strain when actions are deemed to jeopardize broader strategic objectives.
What Comes Next
The strike and its aftermath raise several questions:
Will Israel face greater U.S. pressure before conducting similar operations inside allied territory?
How will regional mediators like Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey be treated in future negotiations?
Can the U.S. maintain strong ties with Israel while also encouraging restraint and coordination in its military operations?
Kushner’s comments suggest the Trump circle believes stability and diplomacy must sometimes override unilateral action, even from reliable partners.
Final Thoughts
Jared Kushner’s interview sheds light on a turning point in Middle East diplomacy. His statement that President Trump viewed Israeli actions as “a little bit out of control” may reflect shifting expectations of allied behaviour and changing U.S. priorities in the region.
Whether this marks a lasting shift or a one-off response to this specific strike remains to be seen. What is clear, though, is that regional partners and allies will likely adjust their strategies in response to this public framing of the incident.