Josh Gruenbaum, a former adviser to Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, will no longer work with them on key foreign policy issues related to Russia-Ukraine or Iran, Politico reports.Grünbaum will now focus solely on issues related to the Gaza Strip through an organization called the Peace Council. The organization is described as an international agency designed to operate independently of the U.S. government, despite its ties to the U.S. government.According to sources, Grunbaum’s foreign policy responsibilities have been reduced and he will now focus exclusively on Gaza-related work through the Peace Council. The organization was formed to operate independently, although Donald Trump serves as its chairman and senior US officials are part of its leadership.A White House spokesman said that in his new role, Grunbaum “will continue to advance the president’s agenda of strengthening global stability.”Glenn Baum, a former Wall Street executive, has risen rapidly within the Trump administration. In January 2025, he was appointed to lead a key procurement unit at the General Services Administration and later became close to Kushner and Witkoff.He initially worked with them on the Gaza ceasefire agreement hammered out in October 2025, which helped expand his role into broader and more sensitive foreign policy matters.His influence peaked earlier this year when he attended a high-level meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.
Internal focus and role change
However, Grunbaum has recently fallen out of favor with several senior advisers within the administration, officials said. Concerns were raised about his working style and internal communications.While Kushner and Witkoff remained supportive, they did not object to the decision to scale back his responsibilities.
New stance seen as a step back
Grunbaum will continue to advise on Gaza-related matters, but will do so outside the White House. He also serves as a senior advisor to the General Services Administration.The new position is seen as taking him further away from the core center of power in Washington, according to sources. He had reportedly sought a more formal position in the White House.A spokesman for the Peace Council said Grünbaum remains an important part of efforts to promote stability and development in the Middle East.
Background and early work
Grunbaum is part of a group of officials with ties to businessman Elon Musk who were brought into the government to help reform the federal procurement system. That effort slowed after Musk resigned from his Washington post.His career in government came into focus earlier this year as he moved quickly from a technical executive role to become involved in high-level international diplomacy.While Grunbaum’s responsibilities are now reduced, he is expected to continue to be involved in Gaza-related initiatives through the Peace Council.
