Fox News host Brian Kilmeade delivered a blunt message to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, calling for the removal of Jared Kushner—the president's son-in-law through Ivanka Trump—and Steve Witkoff from the increasingly unstable Iran negotiations. Speaking on the panel show The Five, Kilmeade argued that the two businessmen are ill-suited for high-stakes diplomacy and that the U.S. State Department should take the lead.
“I also don’t think that Witkoff and Kushner should be the ones doing this,” Kilmeade said during the program. “They’re business guys. They have not been effective in Ukraine, not been effective in Gaza. They have not been effective in this. They can’t have three portfolios to begin with. We have a State Department for a reason.”
His remarks followed a dramatic collapse of the tenuous peace deal that had been brokered in June between the United States and Iran. President Trump, 80, announced earlier this week that the agreement was “over” after Iran launched attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and struck U.S. military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait. Trump described Iran’s leaders as “sick people” and “vicious, violent people,” adding that if they possessed a nuclear weapon, they would use it without hesitation.
Kushner, 45, and Witkoff, 69, have served as informal envoys for the Trump administration, handling multiple sensitive foreign policy files. Kushner, who married Ivanka Trump in 2009, has been a close adviser to the president since the first term, though he never held a formal government position during that time. He played a key role in the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations. However, his later efforts have met with mixed results. Witkoff, a real estate investor and longtime Trump associate, was appointed as a special envoy for Middle East affairs in the second Trump administration.
Together, the two attempted to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, but those talks have also stalled. In Ukraine, Trump is widely viewed unfavorably due to his pressure on Kyiv to make territorial concessions to Moscow. The president’s approach to foreign policy has often bypassed traditional diplomatic channels, favoring personal relationships and deal-making over the expertise of career diplomats.
On The Five, Kilmeade argued that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, 55, is far better equipped to handle the Iran negotiations. “Marco Rubio—even Democrats admit—is looked at as a genius internationally,” Kilmeade said. “He is the guy that most people would want, even if you gave truth serum to Democrats. He should take the lead on this because you can’t do this like a business deal. You have to understand the history of the region and how distrustful the Iranians have been. They will only make a decision if they have no other choice.”
Rubio, a former U.S. Senator from Florida, has served as Secretary of State since the start of Trump’s second term. He is known for his hawkish stance on Iran, Cuba, and China, and has been praised by both Republicans and some Democrats for his diplomatic acumen. Washington Representative Adam Smith, a Democrat, echoed Kilmeade’s sentiment on CNN, calling the point “blindingly obvious.” Smith said, “It doesn’t take Brian Kilmeade to figure that out. Let’s have experienced diplomats. We have experienced diplomats, Middle East experience, nuclear experience, Iran experience, you know—the State Department is an incredibly capable operation.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast regarding Kilmeade’s criticism.
The Iran crisis has escalated rapidly. In late February, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a military campaign against Iran, marking a significant departure from the earlier diplomatic track. That conflict, now in its sixth month, has disrupted global oil markets and heightened tensions across the Middle East. The peace deal reached in June had offered a glimmer of hope, but violations by both sides have eroded trust. Iran’s attacks on the oil tankers and U.S. military sites this week effectively ended the agreement.
Trump responded forcefully, saying in a statement delivered from Turkey, “They’re sick people, they’re led by sick people. They’re vicious, violent people. If they had a nuclear weapon, they’d use it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.” He added that Witkoff and Kushner could continue trying to negotiate, but it was “just a waste of time dealing with them.”
The reliance on non-career diplomats is not new in the Trump administration. During his first term, Trump frequently entrusted key foreign policy tasks to his son-in-law and other personal associates, bypassing the State Department. This approach led to both successes, like the Abraham Accords, and failures, such as the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Critics argue that the lack of institutional knowledge and continuity weakens American diplomacy and undermines long-term alliances.
Kilmeade’s comments represent a rare public break from the administration’s internal circle, as the Fox host is typically supportive of Trump. Known for his morning show Fox & Friends, Kilmeade has often defended the president’s policies. However, his assessment of the Kushner-Witkoff team reflects a growing bipartisan concern about the effectiveness of amateur diplomacy in complex regions like the Middle East.
The situation in Iran remains volatile. The regime in Tehran has been a destabilizing force in the region for decades, supporting proxy groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Its nuclear program continues to advance, with the International Atomic Energy Agency reporting that Iran now possesses enough enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons. The June deal, while fragile, had frozen enrichment and allowed for inspections. Its collapse means Tehran can resume its nuclear activities without restrictions.
Secretary Rubio, if he takes the lead, will inherit a deeply fractured negotiation. His experience as a senator on the Foreign Relations Committee and his understanding of the region’s history might offer a path forward. However, any new talks would require rebuilding trust with Iran and reassuring allies in the Gulf that the United States remains a reliable partner.
The debate over who should manage America’s foreign policy is not new. From the early days of the Republic, presidents have balanced the use of professional diplomats with personal envoys. The Trump administration’s preference for loyalists and businessmen has generated both controversy and occasional results. But as Kilmeade noted, the stakes are too high for trial-and-error. The Iran negotiations require a deep understanding of Persian culture, religious dynamics, and nuclear physics—not just deal-making skills.
In the aftermath of Kilmeade’s remarks, some analysts have speculated that Trump might be willing to shift course. The president values loyalty but also results. If Kushner and Witkoff are seen as having failed in multiple theaters, Trump may reassign them. Meanwhile, Rubio is already positioned as the lead diplomat. It remains to be seen whether the White House will heed the advice of a friendly Fox host or continue its unconventional approach.
The oil market reacted nervously to the escalation. Benchmark crude prices surged by more than 4% on Wednesday, adding to inflationary pressures at home and abroad. Shipping companies are rerouting tankers around the Horn of Africa to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about 20% of global oil supply. The U.S. Navy has increased patrols in the region, and preparations for a broader conflict are underway.
For now, the peace deal of June is dead, and the path forward is uncertain. Kilmeade’s call to bring in professional diplomats may spark a deeper reevaluation of Trump’s foreign policy team. Whether that leads to a more effective negotiation or simply more internal friction remains to be seen. But the message from The Five was clear: business-as-usual diplomacy is not working when lives, security, and global stability hang in the balance.
Source: MSN News