White House breaks silence on $12.5 billion Lakers’ sale to brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner

The White House has pushed back against online claims connecting President Donald Trump to the Los Angeles Lakers’ planned $12.5 billion sale.

Billionaire owner Mark Walter announced Wednesday that Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, Disney’s former chief executive, will purchase the franchise. Walter has controlled the Lakers for fewer than 14 months, and the deal arrives as federal authorities investigate alleged financial misconduct involving insurance companies under his control.

That overlap sparked theories about Trump’s possible influence. One suggested his administration encouraged the investigations to pressure Walter into selling to someone close to the Trump family. Another claimed Walter may have viewed the transaction as a way to reduce pressure from federal officials.

The White House is denying any involvement in the Lakers being sold to Josh Kushner, the brother of President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

“This has nothing to do with President Trump or his administration,” a White House spokesperson told FOS.https://t.co/GLgfN572x2

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) August 12, 2026

White House denies Trump influenced Lakers sale

Front Office Sports asked the White House specifically about the first theory. A spokesperson rejected it, saying, “This has nothing to do with President Trump or his administration.”

Thrive Capital, Kushner’s venture capital company, offered its own brief denial. “This is false,” a company spokesperson said. Walter’s TWG Global did not immediately comment.

Kushner has never worked for the Trump administration in an official or unofficial role. He calls himself a “lifelong Democrat” and has supported Democratic candidates for years.

His family maintains clear connections to Trump. Kushner’s brother, Jared, advised Trump during his first term and now assists with Middle East negotiations as a “Special Envoy for Peace.” Trump also pardoned their father, Charles Kushner, over federal fraud and tax-evasion offenses.

The Lakers announcement follows a scrapped proposal for Kushner’s Thrive Eternal fund to invest in FIFA’s new World Cup commercial operation. Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, abandoned that plan after intense opposition. Trump later backed Infantino publicly without mentioning Kushner or the fund.

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