FOLLOW US

LOS ANGELES — The White House is denying any role in the Josh Kushner Lakers deal. The record $12.5 billion agreement overlaps with a federal investigation into companies controlled by current Lakers owner Mark Walter.

The denial came after fans and sports-business analysts questioned the speed of the transaction. Reports indicate that one of basketball’s most valuable franchises changed hands in roughly 72 hours.

Front Office Sports asked the White House whether the Trump administration encouraged the investigation to pressure Walter into selling. A spokesperson responded that the sale “has nothing to do with President Trump or his administration.”

Thrive Capital, the venture-capital firm founded by Kushner, also rejected the allegation. Walter’s holding company, TWG Global, did not immediately respond to the outlet’s questions.

Why the Josh Kushner Lakers Deal Raised Questions

USA Herald previously reported that Walter agreed to sell his controlling Lakers interest to Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger. The transaction values the franchise at $12.5 billion and still requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors.

Walter only gained control of the Lakers in October 2025. His purchase from the Buss family valued the franchise at $10 billion. Less than a year later, he accepted an offer that raised the team’s valuation by $2.5 billion.

The Associated Press reported that Kushner and Iger reached the agreement within three days after learning Walter might sell. Walter had already started restructuring the organization and pursuing new revenue opportunities.

No public evidence shows that the White House, Trump or anyone in the Justice Department participated in the negotiations. However, the investigation surrounding Walter’s businesses and Kushner’s family connections created questions that neither side could simply ignore.

What Federal Investigators Are Examining

Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission are examining transactions involving two insurers controlled by Walter. The investigation centers on approximately $16 billion in private-credit loans connected to Delaware Life Insurance and Clear Spring Life and Annuity.

According to the Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal, the insurers passed the loans through a third party. The money ultimately reached businesses tied to Walter or TWG Global. Authorities are investigating whether the companies properly disclosed those loans as related-party transactions.

The investigation reportedly began after an internal whistleblower questioned how Guggenheim Investments recorded revenue from its dealings with insurers. Federal prosecutors later expanded the probe. The insurers disclosed in June that they received grand jury subpoenas in February, while the SEC opened a parallel investigation.

Investigators have not charged Walter or his companies with a crime. TWG has said Walter and the company acted in good faith, continue to cooperate and expect a favorable resolution.

Walter Was Already Trying to Raise Billions

The federal scrutiny provides only part of the financial picture. Walter’s companies were already seeking billions of dollars to restructure loans held by the two insurers.

Reuters reported that Walter offered to pledge his equity in Guggenheim Partners as part of that effort. TWG also offered investors double-digit returns for providing new capital.

Those negotiations continued after Walter agreed to sell the Lakers. That creates a plausible financial explanation for accepting a record offer, even if the timing still attracts scrutiny.

The increase in the Lakers’ valuation does not mean Walter personally earns the full $2.5 billion difference. His actual proceeds will depend on the size of the interest sold, financing costs and other undisclosed terms.

The Kushner Family’s Trump Connections

Joshua Kushner has never served in the Trump administration. He describes himself as a lifelong Democrat and has donated to Democratic candidates. He and his wife, model Karlie Kloss, have also publicly distanced themselves from his family’s conservative politics.

Still, calling Kushner Trump-adjacent is not a stretch. His older brother, Jared Kushner, is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka and served as a senior White House adviser during Trump’s first term.

Their father, Charles Kushner, also has direct ties to the president. Trump pardoned him in 2020 after his federal convictions for tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions and witness tampering. Trump later appointed Charles Kushner as the U.S. ambassador to France and Monaco.

Those connections do not establish that the president influenced the Lakers transaction. They do explain why the sale immediately drew political scrutiny once details of Walter’s federal investigation resurfaced.

The Viral Post Gets Key Details Wrong

A viral social media post celebrating Kushner’s “historic run” helped push the Lakers deal into a wider political conversation. Several claims in the post are accurate. Forbes estimates Kushner’s wealth at approximately $5.2 billion, and he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is married to Kloss and founded Thrive Capital.

However, Thrive is a venture-capital firm, not a private-equity firm. The post also incorrectly describes Kushner as a current co-owner of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Associated Press reports that Kushner previously owned a stake in the Grizzlies. He now owns a minority interest in the Miami Heat. The NBA approval process will have to address that ownership interest before the Lakers transaction can close.

The post also presents the Lakers purchase as completed. Kushner and Iger have signed an agreement to acquire control, but the NBA Board of Governors must still approve the transaction.

What Happens Next

The Lakers sale and the federal investigation remain separate matters in the public record. The White House and Thrive Capital have denied any political involvement, and no evidence currently connects the investigation to Kushner’s offer.

The unusual timing still deserves careful reporting. Walter accepted an unexpected offer while companies under his control faced federal scrutiny and worked to raise billions of dollars.

NBA governors must now review one of the largest sports transactions in history. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors and the SEC will continue examining Walter’s financial empire. That overlap is already remarkable without social media turning unanswered questions into established facts.