Josh Kushner political party affiliation is drawing fresh attention this week after the billionaire investor agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers. Kushner identifies as a lifelong Democrat, a fact that stands in sharp contrast to his family’s close ties to President Donald Trump.
Who Is Josh Kushner?
Josh Kushner, born June 12, 1985, in Livingston, New Jersey, is the founder and managing partner of Thrive Capital, the venture capital firm behind early investments in Instagram, Spotify, Stripe, and OpenAI. He also co-founded and serves as vice-chairman of Oscar Health, the insurance startup he built starting in 2012.
He holds an estimated net worth of $5.2 billion, according to Forbes. Kushner is married to model and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss, and the couple has three children together. He is the youngest son of Charles Kushner, the current U.S. ambassador to France, and the younger brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump.
Josh Kushner’s Political Party: A Lifelong Democrat
Unlike his older brother Jared, who shifted from Democratic to independent and eventually registered Republican in 2018, Josh Kushner has remained a consistent supporter of Democratic candidates and causes. His political involvement has come almost entirely through campaign donations rather than public office or activism.
Federal election records show Kushner donated $12,500 in support of President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012. More recently, he contributed $250,000 to the political action committee Growth Democrats during the 2024 election cycle.
In 2016, a spokesperson for Kushner confirmed he was a lifelong Democrat who did not vote for Donald Trump that year. Kloss was publicly vocal about her support for Hillary Clinton at the time, posting a photo of her absentee ballot with the hashtag #ImWithHer. Neither Kushner nor Kloss attended Trump’s first presidential inauguration in January 2017.
Kushner addressed his political leanings directly in a 2017 interview with Forbes, saying liberal values have guided his life and that he has supported political leaders who share those values.
Family Ties Complicate the Political Picture
Despite his own Democratic leanings, Josh Kushner cannot fully separate himself from his family’s political profile. His brother Jared served as senior advisor to President Trump from January 2017 to January 2021 and returned to an informal advisory role in 2025. In February 2026, Jared was officially appointed United States Special Envoy for Peace Missions, working alongside Steve Witkoff on diplomatic negotiations tied to the Gaza war and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Their father, Charles Kushner, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 51-45 vote on May 19, 2025, and has served as U.S. ambassador to France and Monaco since July 11, 2025.
This dynamic, a Democratic donor whose immediate family sits inside a Republican administration, has made Josh Kushner a subject of curiosity whenever he steps into the public spotlight.
The Lakers Deal Puts Kushner Back in Headlines
Kushner’s political identity resurfaced on August 12, 2026, when he and former Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed they had reached an agreement to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal values the storied NBA franchise at $12.5 billion, the largest price tag ever paid for a U.S. sports team.
The sale comes from Mark Walter, who had owned a controlling stake in the Lakers for only about 14 months after buying it from the Buss family at a $10 billion valuation in October 2024. Walter’s Guggenheim Partners is separately facing scrutiny from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan and the Securities and Exchange Commission over insurance fraud allegations, according to multiple reports.
In a joint statement released Wednesday, Iger and Kushner said they were deeply honored to become stewards of the Lakers and praised the leadership of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Jeanie Buss currently serves as the team’s governor under the terms of her prior agreement with Walter.
Key Facts on the Lakers Sale
- Deal value: $12.5 billion, a record for any U.S. sports franchise
- Buyers: Josh Kushner and Bob Iger
- Seller: Mark Walter, who bought the team 14 months earlier
- Announcement date: August 12, 2026
- Approval needed: NBA Board of Governors, with the next meeting scheduled for September 2026 in New York
Kushner already held a minority ownership stake in the Miami Heat before agreeing to buy the Lakers, and he and Iger had previously explored acquiring an NBA expansion team based in Las Vegas.
Reaction From the Basketball World
NBA legend and former Lakers president Magic Johnson congratulated both buyers publicly, calling Iger a longtime friend with a deep love of the franchise. Lakers superstar Luka Doncic, who joined the team in a blockbuster trade, said he looks forward to meeting the new owners and building on the franchise’s legacy.
Jeanie Buss responded to Doncic’s statement with a message calling it perfectly said, adding purple and gold heart emojis.
Why Kushner’s Political Identity Matters to Fans
For many observers, the Josh Kushner political party question carries extra weight given the timing of the Lakers purchase. The deal places a well-known Democratic donor at the helm of one of the most visible franchises in American sports, even as his brother continues serving in a senior diplomatic role inside the Trump administration.
Kushner has not made any recent public statements suggesting a shift away from his longstanding Democratic support. His donation history, his own comments to Forbes, and his 2016 voting record all point to a consistent political identity that predates his current business success.
As the Lakers ownership transition moves through the NBA approval process in the coming weeks, Kushner’s profile, both as a businessman and as a political donor, is likely to draw continued attention from fans and reporters alike.
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