Steve Witkoff
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Steven Charles Witkoff, a prominent American real estate developer, investor, and the founder of the Witkoff Group, has taken on significant roles in international diplomacy. Beginning in 2025, Witkoff has served as the United States Special Envoy to the Middle East and Special Envoy for Peace Missions. His career began as a real estate attorney, a path he soon left to embark on ambitious property development ventures across New York and Miami.
Born in the Bronx and raised on Long Island, Witkoff pursued his education at Hofstra University, earning a B.A. in political science and a J.D. After his initial career as a real estate attorney, he transitioned into property development, acquiring iconic buildings in Manhattan, including the Daily News Building and the Woolworth Building. As of May 2025, Forbes estimated his net worth at an impressive US$2 billion.
During the first Trump administration, Witkoff was a member of the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups, established to address the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, during Trump's second term, he was appointed Special Envoy to the Middle East. Even before officially taking office, he collaborated with President Joe Biden's team, contributing to negotiations that facilitated a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas in January 2025. He has also acted as an unofficial envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Witkoff, of Russian-Jewish descent, was born in the Bronx and grew up on Long Island. His father led a women's clothing manufacturer, and his mother was an interior designer. While some accounts suggest his grandparents emigrated from the Russian Empire, this is debated due to limited evidence, with some census records indicating his mother's parents were born in the United States.
His academic journey began at Union College before he transferred to Hofstra University, where he earned his B.A. in political science in 1980. He went on to graduate with a J.D. from Hofstra Law School in 1983.
Witkoff's professional life commenced as a real estate lawyer. By November 2024, The Wall Street Journal noted that peers in the real estate industry consistently described Witkoff as intelligent, personable, and a skilled negotiator with a down-to-earth approach. After law school, he joined Dreyer & Traub in New York City, where Donald Trump was one of his clients, initiating a business relationship that reportedly blossomed into a personal friendship. Witkoff continued his real estate law practice at Rosenman & Colin until 1986.
In 1985, he co-founded Stellar Management with fellow attorney Larry Gluck, a partnership reflected in the company's name. They shifted their focus from law to real estate ownership and management, acquiring affordable apartment buildings in Washington Heights and the Northwest Bronx, eventually owning over 3,000 apartments across 85 buildings. By 1995, he expanded into lower Manhattan, purchasing office buildings. In 1996, he secured financing for the acquisition of 33 Maiden Lane, a significant tower designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee, leasing a substantial portion to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for 25 years. His portfolio grew to include landmark properties like the Daily News Building in Manhattan.
In 1997, Witkoff departed Stellar Management to establish the Witkoff Group, a privately held company headquartered in New York City, where he serves as chairman and CEO. The group expanded into residential construction and land rehabilitation. In 1998, he and partner Rubin Schron purchased the Woolworth Building for $138 million, extending his real estate interests to Chicago, Dallas, and Philadelphia. By October 1998, the Witkoff Group managed 11 million square feet of commercial and retail real estate, with ownership stakes in 7,500 apartments and various land and hotel developments. A planned $2 billion IPO in 1998 was canceled due to a real estate market downturn, leading to the dissolution of the Witkoff and Gluck partnership, with Witkoff retaining the office buildings.
In 2013, Witkoff and Harry Macklowe acquired the Park Lane Hotel on Central Park South for $660 million. That same year, Witkoff and Fisher Brothers purchased a parcel in Tribeca for $223 million, where they developed the 792-foot residential tower, 111 Murray Street. Over time, Witkoff diversified into higher-profile properties, including Manhattan landmarks like the Daily News Building and the Woolworth Building. By 2019, the Witkoff Group owned approximately 50 properties globally.
The Witkoff Group acquired the Fontainebleau Las Vegas resort and casino project for $600 million, with plans for it to open as The Drew in 2020, named after Witkoff's late son Andrew. However, construction halted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Koch Real Estate Investments later purchased the property, which reopened as the Fontainebleau in December 2023. In 2023, Bloomberg reported Witkoff's involvement in reviving the troubled One High Line condominium project and a record-breaking loan for the redevelopment of the Shore Club Private Collection in Miami Beach.
During the first Donald Trump administration, Witkoff cultivated extensive business ties in the Middle East. The Qatari government was a significant source of funding for the Witkoff Group, reportedly seeking to build favor with the Trump administration by engaging with his associates. This Qatari financing was crucial as the Witkoff Group faced financial challenges at the time.
Following his 2025 appointment in the second Trump administration, Witkoff maintained ownership in the Witkoff Group. A White House spokesperson stated in September 2025 that Witkoff was "finalizing" his divestment from the firm. Concerns were raised in 2025 when Witkoff's son, Alex, actively solicited investments from Middle Eastern governments while Witkoff was engaged in high-stakes ceasefire negotiations.
In April 2020, Witkoff joined the Great American Economic Revival Industry Group. On July 18, 2024, he delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention. On September 15, 2024, while golfing with Donald Trump, an assassination attempt occurred, during which a Secret Service officer intervened. On November 9, 2024, Witkoff was named co-chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee for Trump's second term.
On November 12, 2024, President-elect Trump announced Witkoff's selection as Special Envoy to the Middle East, despite Witkoff's lack of diplomatic experience. While in office, he played a role in significant geopolitical negotiations and was appointed Special Envoy for Peace Missions on July 3, 2025.
Witkoff played a crucial role in negotiating a January 2025 ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas, working alongside Brett McGurk and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. This led to a six-week ceasefire and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, with steps toward further de-escalation. Witkoff's approach involved applying pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizing Trump's desire to finalize the deal. The New York Times highlighted this as a rare instance of cooperation between incoming and outgoing presidential teams during a critical moment. On January 29, 2025, Witkoff entered Gaza to oversee the ceasefire.
On March 2, 2025, the Israeli government reportedly implemented a new plan, referred to as the "Witkoff plan," which differed from the initial agreement and was rejected by Hamas. Witkoff later blamed Hamas for renewed fighting, citing their refusal to demilitarize. In April 2025, he met with Israeli officials in Paris ahead of US-led nuclear talks with Iran, participating in the first round of high-level meetings in Oman. Following Israeli strikes in Iran in June 2025, diplomatic talks were suspended. On June 1, 2025, after an incident in Rafah, pro-Palestinian social media accounts referred to it as the "Witkoff massacre," referencing Witkoff's endorsement of Israel's plan for aid delivery in Gaza.
President Trump designated Witkoff as his de facto envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin. By March 2025, Witkoff had become the primary communication channel between the Trump administration and the Russian presidency. Despite lacking formal diplomatic training, he conducted meetings that deviated from standard protocol, raising concerns about their accuracy and effectiveness. On February 11, 2025, Witkoff traveled to Moscow, meeting with President Putin and facilitating a prisoner swap. He described his relationship with Putin as a "friendship" beneficial for the world.
Witkoff rejected concerns about Ukraine and Europe being excluded from future peace negotiations. On February 18, American and Russian delegations met in Riyadh, with Witkoff accompanying the U.S. Secretary of State. In a March 21, 2025, podcast interview, Witkoff discussed negotiations regarding Ukrainian territories, asserting that Russian-speaking populations in these regions supported Russian rule based on referendums. He also spoke positively of Putin, calling him a "great guy" and "super smart," and stated he did not regard Putin as a bad guy. He mentioned Putin praying for Trump after the assassination attempt and gifting him a portrait of Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed distress over Witkoff's comments, believing he was influenced by Russian disinformation.
In April 2025, Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow, using Kremlin-provided translators, a departure from standard diplomatic practice. In early August 2025, Witkoff's misinterpretation of Putin's remarks regarding a "peaceful withdrawal" of Ukrainian forces seemingly prompted President Trump to pause new sanctions and invite Putin for a summit in Alaska. The August 15, 2025, Alaska summit was characterized by symbolic pageantry rather than substantive progress. On August 17, 2025, Witkoff claimed Putin promised to enshrine a non-aggression pledge in Russia's constitution, a statement met with skepticism.
In March 2025, Witkoff voiced concerns about the potential destabilization of Egypt and Saudi Arabia due to the war in Gaza, highlighting Egypt's high youth unemployment and financial difficulties. He also suggested that Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, might have changed since his association with Al-Qaeda.
In 2024, Witkoff criticized the Biden administration's decision to halt bomb shipments to Israel but also stated that Hamas members were "not as ideologically extreme as they are portrayed." In March 2025, he suggested that Prime Minister Netanyahu was prioritizing the destruction of Hamas over the release of hostages.
In 2018, Witkoff opposed sanctions against Russia for its occupation of Crimea. He has praised Putin and appeared to support Russian claims regarding the war in Ukraine, suggesting NATO played a role in provoking the conflict and that most Eastern Ukrainians desired Russian rule. He expressed certainty that Putin had no intention of invading Europe or occupying further Ukrainian territories beyond the annexed southeastern regions.
Witkoff supported Trump's diplomatic efforts regarding Iran's nuclear program, advocating for Iran to abandon its enrichment program as part of an agreement.
Witkoff resided on the Upper East Side in Manhattan before relocating to Florida in 2019. He married Lauren Jill Rappoport in 1987, and they have three sons. Their son Andrew passed away in 2011 from an OxyContin overdose. Their son Zach is a co-founder of a cryptocurrency company, and their son Alexander is co-CEO of the Witkoff Group. Since at least 2024, he has been in a relationship with Lauren Olaya. Witkoff has served on the executive committee for the Real Estate Board of New York, as a trustee for the Intrepid Foundation, and on the board of trustees of Hofstra University.
Following his son Andrew's death from an opioid overdose, Witkoff became an advocate for addiction awareness and recovery efforts, addressing the issue at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
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Steven Charles Witkoff (born March 15, 1957) is an American real estate developer, investor, and founder of the Witkoff Group. Beginning in 2025, Witkoff has served as the United States special envoy to the Middle East and special envoy for Peace Missions. He began his career as a real estate attorney and later expanded into major property development in New York and Miami.
Born in the Bronx and raised on Long Island, Witkoff earned a B.A. in political science and a J.D. from Hofstra University. After starting his career as a real estate attorney, he shifted to property development, acquiring prominent buildings in Manhattan, including the Daily News Building and the Woolworth Building. As of May 2025, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$2 billion.
During the first Trump administration, Witkoff was a member of the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups, created to combat the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. In 2025, during Trump's second term, he was appointed special envoy to the Middle East. Before formally taking office, he worked with President Joe Biden's team to help push negotiations that led to a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas in January 2025. He has also acted as a de facto envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
== Early life and education ==
Witkoff, who is of Russian-Jewish descent, was born in the Bronx in New York City, and was raised in Baldwin Harbor and Old Westbury on Long Island. He is the son of Martin and Lois Witkoff. His father was the president of a women's clothing manufacturer named George Simonton Inc., and his mother was an interior designer. Some claim that grandparents on both sides came to the United States from the Russian Empire, however this is disputed since only low quality evidence exists for this, and his mother's 1940 census states that her parents were born in the United States.
Witkoff began his studies at Union College in Schenectady, New York, but chose to transfer to Hofstra University, where he earned a B.A. in political science in 1980. In 1983, he graduated with a J.D. from Hofstra Law School.
== Private sector career ==
Witkoff began his career as a real estate lawyer. In November 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that: "Peers in the real-estate world invariably describe Witkoff ... as smart, personable and a talented negotiator with a common touch."
After graduating from law school in 1983, Witkoff worked for the New York City real estate law firm Dreyer & Traub, where one of his clients was Donald Trump. They later developed a business relationship which reportedly evolved into a personal friendship. Witkoff subsequently practiced real estate law at the New York City law firm Rosenman & Colin, through 1986.
=== Stellar Management ===
In 1985, he co-founded Stellar Management, partnering with fellow Dreyer & Traub real estate attorney Larry Gluck — "Stellar" is a reference to Steve and Larry — switching their careers from the practice of law to owning and managing real estate. They purchased inexpensive apartment buildings in Washington Heights, Manhattan and the Northwest Bronx; at one point they owned 85 buildings with over 3,000 apartments. In 1995, he expanded into lower Manhattan, buying several inexpensive office buildings. In 1996, he secured financing from Credit Suisse First Boston for the purchase of 33 Maiden Lane, a 27-story tower designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee; the following year, he leased the top 13 floors of the building to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for a 25-year term. Witkoff purchased additional properties including the landmark Daily News Building in the East Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan, designed by architects Raymond Hood and John Mead Howells.
=== Witkoff Group ===
In 1997, Witkoff left Stellar Management, founded and became chairman and CEO of the privately held Witkoff Group headquartered in New York City, and expanded into residential construction and land rehabilitation. In 1998, he and business partner Rubin Schron purchased the Woolworth Building in Tribeca for $138 million, and he expanded his portfolio to include real estate purchases in Chicago, Dallas, and Philadelphia. By October 1998, the Witkoff Group operated 11 million square feet of commercial and retail real estate, and held an ownership interest in 7,500 apartments and a number of land and hotel developments. In 1998, a planned $2 billion IPO of his company was canceled due to the collapse of the real estate market, and Witkoff and Gluck dissolved their partnership, with Gluck taking the residential properties and Witkoff the office buildings.
In 2013, Witkoff and Harry Macklowe purchased the Park Lane Hotel on Central Park South in Manhattan for $660 million. That year, Witkoff and Fisher Brothers also purchased a parcel of land in Tribeca in Manhattan for $223 million on which they built a 792-foot high residential tower, 111 Murray Street.
Over time, Witkoff diversified into higher-profile properties, including landmark buildings in Manhattan such as the Daily News Building and Woolworth Building.
As of 2019, the Witkoff Group owned about 50 properties in the United States and internationally.
The Witkoff Group purchased the project to build the resort and casino Fontainebleau Las Vegas for $600 million. The property was scheduled to open in 2020 as The Drew, named after Witkoff's late son Andrew. However, construction stopped in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada. In February 2021, Koch Real Estate Investments purchased the property. The original name was reinstated, and the hotel opened in December 2023.
Also in 2023, Bloomberg reported that Witkoff helped revive the troubled One High Line condominium project in Manhattan, completing its transition to new ownership and development. That year, the Witkoff Group and Monroe Capital closed on a record-breaking loan for the redevelopment of the Shore Club Private Collection in Miami Beach.
==== First Donald Trump administration ====
Prior to and after his appointment as the second Donald Trump administration's envoy to the Middle East, Witkoff has had extensive business ties in the Middle East. During the first Donald Trump administration, the Qatari government was a key source of funds for the Witkoff Group. According to the New York Times, the Qatari government sought to curry favor with the Trump administration by forming close relationships with Trump confidantes, such as Witkoff. At the time, the Witkoff Group was facing financial problems, making the Qatari financing important.
==== Second Donald Trump administration ====
After his 2025 appointment in the second Trump administration, Witkoff retained ownership in the Witkoff Group. When asked about these conflicts of interest in September 2025, a White House spokesperson said Witkoff was "finalizing" his divestment from the firm. In 2025, as Witkoff was engaged in high-stakes negotiations with Middle Eastern governments over a ceasefire in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, his son Alex was soliciting several of the same governments for billions of dollars of investment into his enterprises, raising conflicts of interest concerns.
== Political career ==
In April 2020 during the first presidency of Donald Trump, Witkoff was a member of the Great American Economic Revival Industry Group, which was created by Trump to combat the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
In July 2024, Witkoff gave a speech on night four of the Republican National Convention.
On September 15, 2024, Witkoff was playing golf with Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, when Ryan Wesley Routh allegedly attempted to assassinate Trump. A Secret Service officer fired at the gunman, who fled in a vehicle and was later apprehended.
On November 9, 2024, Witkoff was chosen to be co-chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee for Trump's upcoming second presidency, along with former US Senator Kelly Loeffler.
=== Second Trump presidency ===
On November 12, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he had selected Witkoff to be his Special Envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff had no diplomatic experience.
While in office, he played a role in key geopolitical negotiations, including on issues unrelated to the Middle East, and was eventually appointed Special Envoy for Peace Missions on July 3, 2025.
==== Middle East ====
Witkoff played a key role in negotiating a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas in January 2025, along with Brett McGurk, President Biden's lead negotiator who invited Witkoff to join the negotiations, and Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who it was agreed would be the one who would speak to Hamas. There followed a six-week ceasefire agreement, during which there would be a swap of 33 Hamas-held hostages taken in the October 7 attacks for approximately 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, some of whom were serving life sentences for murder, and steps toward further exchanges and ending a prolonged 15-month war.
Witkoff's approach differed from traditional diplomatic methods, as he, joined by McGurk on speakerphone from Qatar, applied pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize the deal, stressing that Trump wanted the deal done, achieving in the final weeks what had been in negotiation for nearly a year. The New York Times wrote: "It was a vivid example of cooperation between two men representing bitter political rivals. Rarely if ever have teams of current and new presidents of different parties worked together at such a high-stakes moment, with the fate of American lives and the future of a devastating war hanging in the balance."
On January 29, 2025, Witkoff arrived in Israel and made a rare entry by an American official into Gaza to personally oversee the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
On March 2, 2025, the Israeli government stopped the entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip. The office of prime minister Netanyahu claimed they were acting upon a proposal Witkoff had originally presented. The new plan does not mention an Israeli retreat from positions in Gaza after half of the hostages have been released in phase one of the 2025 Gaza war ceasefire. The existence of a "Witkoff-plan" had not been confirmed by Washington as of March 3, 2025.
Instead of continuing to the second phase of the ceasefire per the original agreement, Israel proposed a new plan (called the "Witkoff plan" after Steve Witkoff), in which Hamas would release the Israeli captives in exchange for a 50-day extension of the ceasefire, with Israel retaining the option of returning to war. Hamas rejected this new proposal, which differed from the terms agreed in January 2025.
On March 23, 2025, Witkoff blamed Hamas for renewed fighting in Gaza, saying that "Hamas had every opportunity to demilitarize, to accept the bridging proposal that would have given us a 40- or 50-day ceasefire where we could have discussed demilitarization and a final truce."
In April 2025, Witkoff had an unannounced meeting in Paris with two Israeli officials ahead of the US-led nuclear talks with Iran. He represented the Trump administration's push for a diplomatic resolution. The first round of high level-meetings was held in Oman on April 12, 2025, led by Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Following the June 2025 Israeli strikes in Iran, diplomatic talks about nuclear energy between US and Iran were indefinitely suspended.
On June 1, 2025, the IDF killed at least 32 civilians and wounded over 200 at the aid centre in Rafah. Pro-Palestinian social media accounts referred to the June 1 incident as the "Witkoff massacre", referring Witkoff, who had endorsed Israel's plan to take over aid delivery in Gaza. On August 1, 2025, Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the GHS distribution center in Gaza.
==== Negotiations with Russia ====
President Trump has made Witkoff, who is of Russian-Jewish descent himself, his de facto envoy to Russian president Vladimir Putin. By March 2025, Witkoff had become the main channel of communication between the Trump administration and the Russian presidency.
Lacking formal training in diplomacy, he conducted key meetings in ways that breached standard diplomatic protocol, raising concerns about the accuracy, trustworthiness, and effectiveness of such engagements.
On February 11, 2025, Trump sent Witkoff to Moscow, where he met with President Putin and was responsible for the negotiations that led to a prisoner swap and the release of U.S. citizen Marc Fogel from a Russian prison, in exchange for Russian citizen Alexander Vinnik. Witkoff said that Putin and Trump "had a great friendship, and I think now it's going to continue, and it's a really good thing for the world".
Witkoff said he "spent a lot of time with Putin" during the secret trip and had developed a "friendship and relationship" with Putin.
On February 16, Witkoff rejected concerns that Ukraine and Europe would be excluded from any future peace negotiations in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On February 18, American and Russian delegations, headed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, respectively, met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to develop a framework for further peace negotiations. Rubio was accompanied by Steve Witkoff and Former U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
On March 21, 2025, in a podcast interview with Tucker Carlson, Witkoff said that the biggest issue in negotiations are the "so-called four regions: Donbas, Crimea, Lugansk...and there's two others". Russia occupied and annexed Crimea in 2014, then occupied and annexed four more Ukrainian provinces during its 2022 invasion. He said that the populations in those provinces were Russian-speaking and "there were referendums where the vast majority of people indicated that they wanted to be under Russian rule". The polls had been held by Russia in the midst of its invasion and were condemned as a "sham" by the U.S., Ukraine and most of the international community.
In the interview, Witkoff spoke positively of Vladimir Putin. He called Putin a "great guy" and "super smart". Witkoff said "I liked him, I think he was honest" and "I don't regard Putin as a bad guy". According to Witkoff, Putin told him that he prayed for "his friend" Donald Trump following the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. He recalled that "President Putin had commissioned a beautiful portrait of President Trump, from the leading Russian artist, and actually gave it to me and asked me to take it home to President Trump". Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that Ukrainians were "very disturbed" by Witkoff's comments and believed he had been influenced by Russian disinformation. U.S. Democratic Representative Seth Moulton called Witkoff's comments "insane" and accused him of "negotiating for the other side" and "taking the side of our enemy". While journalist Stephen Pollard commented that Witkoff may mean well, but was embarrassingly out of his depth dealing with Putin.
In April 2025, Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow. Witkoff did not bring his own interpreter to the meetings, instead relying on Kremlin-provided translators. The decision was noted as a departure from standard diplomatic protocol, with former U.S. ambassador Michael McFaul commenting that “the language is never the same” when using only host-country interpreters.
In early August 2025, Witkoff traveled to Moscow for another round of talks with Putin. During the meeting, Witkoff reportedly misunderstood Putin’s remarks—interpreting a suggestion that he was open to a “peaceful withdrawal” of Ukrainian forces from occupied territories as an offer for Russian forces to withdraw from regions such as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. This misinterpretation, conveyed back to Washington, seemingly prompted President Trump to pause new sanctions and extend an invitation to Putin for a summit in Alaska. Critics argue that Putin “was rewarded not with debilitating sanctions but with an invitation to meet,” reflecting the fallout from this diplomatic confusion.
The Alaska 2025 summit took place on August 15, 2025. Coverage of the meeting highlighted that the summit was marked more by symbolic pageantry, such as flyovers and photo-ops, than substantive progress, with Witkoff’s role reinforcing what critics saw as a spectacle of false diplomacy. Commentators further argued that entrusting such responsibilities to a real-estate executive instead of trained diplomats not only compromised the talks but set a precedent for sidelining expertise in critical foreign policy negotiations.
On August 17, 2025, Witkoff claimed that, during the Alaska summit, Putin had promised to enshrine a non-aggression pledge in Russia’s constitution. His statements were dismissed as naïve and dangerously misguided, given Russia’s history of using constitutional amendments to consolidate power and justify territorial expansion rather than promote peace.
== Views ==
=== Egypt ===
In March 2025, Witkoff expressed concern that Israel's war in Gaza could destabilize Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. He stated that the youth unemployment rate in Egypt is 45% and that the country is bankrupt, saying that "country can't exist like that. They're largely broke. They need a lot of help."
=== Syria ===
In March 2025, Witkoff suggested that Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa may have changed since his association with Al-Qaeda.
=== Israel and Palestine ===
In 2024, Witkoff criticized the Biden administration over its decision to halt the shipment of certain bombs to Israel. However, he also stated that Hamas members are "not as ideologically extreme as they are portrayed" and praised Qatar for its efforts in trying to negotiate an end to the Gaza conflict.
In March 2025, Witkoff said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, by renewing attacks on Gaza, was prioritizing the destruction of Hamas over the release of Israeli hostages.
=== Russia and Ukraine ===
In 2018, Witkoff opposed sanctions against Russia for its occupation of Crimea.
Witkoff has praised Russian president Putin and has appeared to support Russian government claims about its war against Ukraine. He said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was "not necessarily" started by Russia, that NATO had a significant role in provoking the conflict, and that most Eastern Ukrainians want to live under Russian rule.
Witkoff said he is certain that Putin is not going to invade Europe and is not interested in the rest of Ukraine other than the annexed southeastern Ukraine.
=== Iran's nuclear program ===
Witkoff supported Trump's attempts to reach a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program. He has stated that Iran should abandon its nuclear enrichment program as part of an agreement.
== Personal life ==
Witkoff previously lived on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. In 1987, he married Lauren Jill Rappoport, who was then an associate at the Manhattan law firm of Botein, Hays & Sklar. They have three sons. In 2011, their 22-year-old son Andrew died of an OxyContin overdose at the now-closed Sunset Plaza Drive sober living facility in California. Their son Zach is a co-founder of World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company. Their son Alexander is co-CEO of the Witkoff Group.
In 2019, Witkoff relocated from New York City to Florida, and settled in Miami Beach. Since at least 2024, Witkoff has been in a relationship with Lauren Olaya, who often accompanies him.
Witkoff has been on the executive committee for the Real Estate Board of New York, and is a trustee for the Intrepid Foundation, and on the board of trustees of Hofstra University (since 2015).
=== Advocacy ===
After the death of his son, Andrew, from an opioid overdose in 2011, Witkoff has become an advocate for addiction awareness and recovery efforts, addressing the issue in his speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
== References ==
== External links ==
Witkoff.com
"WATCH: Steve Witkoff speaks at 2024 Republican National Convention | 2024 RNC Night 4," PBS, July 18, 2024 (video).
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