Red Flags In Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner's Relationship We Just Can't Ignore

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have had the world fascinated by their romance ever since they met in 2005. But, the more we've learned about the two, the more red flags have emerged about the couple. And that includes their fair share of rumors that there's trouble in paradise.

In 2022, Radar Online claimed things weren't exactly good between the parents of three, as a source stated Kushner had supposedly encouraged his wife to distance herself from her politically divisive dad, Donald Trump. "Jared recognized Donald had become radioactive, and he pushed Ivanka to abandon her father for the sake of their own reputations and the future of their children," they said. That reportedly spiraled into serious tension between the couple. "They're always fighting and can barely contain their growing animosity for each other even when they appear in public," the insider added. But that's hardly the only sign things may not be as picture perfect as they seem.

Just as Ivanka Trump and Jared Kusher were getting serious, they broke up. And it wasn't over something small, either. Kushner, who is Jewish, detailed their 2008 split in his 2022 book "Breaking History: A White House Memoir," recalling differing religions got in the way. "When I realized that I was falling in love with Ivanka, I grew concerned about our different religions. As hard and painful as it was, I broke up with her," he wrote. Page Six claimed they'd dated for around a year, with a source telling the outlet the breakup "was mutual." Another source told the outlet, "It's a sad thing." The New Yorker elaborated on the split eight years later, claiming Kushner's parents didn't approve of their inter-faith relationship. The outlet added that Trump wasn't happy that her then-boyfriend didn't stand up to them. "I know he loved Ivanka dearly. But the religious thing was important to him," Nitin Saigal, Kushner's friend, said.

Though there are arguments both for and against getting back with an ex (there are even tips for rekindling a relationship with a past love), returning to a past relationship can be a red flag. "Although all circumstances are different, getting back with an ex is often the 'lazy man's choice,'" Gemille Cribb, clinical and tantric sexuality coach, told GQ Australia. "You don't know if you'll find a new favourite ice cream flavour if you keep choosing vanilla, and you'll never experience the many varied amazing flavours of love if you keep going back to the same person."

Jared Kushner admitting his and Ivanka Trump's religious differences caused their split didn't exactly paint him in a very understanding, willing to compromise, or tolerant light, and her need to convert to make their relationship work could be a red flag. There's nothing wrong with converting to another religion for a partner, as long as it's something you genuinely want to do and you've fully thought about the decision. However, in "Breaking History: A White House Memoir," Kushner suggested things happened fairly quickly after they got back together following their split. "As the months went on, Ivanka told me that she was open to exploring the possibility of converting to Judaism. We began meeting with the rabbi and studying and practicing Shabbat," he shared. They were engaged by July 2009 and married the following October. It seems Trump's dad, Donald Trump, may have considered the move a red flag at first, too. Kushner recalled sitting down with the businessman, who asked him, "Why does she have to convert? Why can't you convert?" Kushner responded, "Ivanka had made the decision on her own, and we were both comfortable with it."

Though, on the surface, Trump seemed happy to make the decision to start her life with Kushner, religious differences and converting in a relationship can easily cause problems. "Religion is a very, very big issue. If two people aren't on the same page, it can cause a crack in the foundation of the relationship," Fran Walfish, a family psychotherapist, told Deseret News. There's also the possibility of Trump becoming resentful of her partner after making such a fundamental change to something so personal.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner may be one of the richest couples in the world (they have a combined net worth of $1 billion, according to CNBC) — but that's not obvious from their odd gift choices. Kushner gave us red flag vibes when he once gifted his partner an immersion blender, despite having access to pretty much anything and everything. "When I first learned how to cook, I was really into soups. It's one of my most used cooking instruments," Trump said of the gift to The Wall Street Journal in 2012.

Of course, having millions in the bank doesn't mean Kushner has to continually give Trump expensive and lavish gifts — and vice versa. It's also not a red flag to gift something you know they'll get a lot of use out of. However, the businessman providing his wife with cooking equipment could be seen as old fashioned, particularly as Trump has suggested the bulk of the cooking falls to her. "I love to cook and [Kushner] loves to eat," she told People in 2020.

It sounds like Jared Kushner needs our best winter date night ideas for every relationship stage, as Ivanka Trump dished on their less than romantic outings during a 2015 business meeting attended by Vogue. The star recalled a time she got all dressed up only to find that Kushner had an ulterior motive. "My husband's idea of a date night somehow always involves me looking at one of his development sites ... All of a sudden I find myself standing on the roof of the Whole Foods in Gowanus in the pouring rain. At midnight. And he's showing me this giant site he just bought," she shared. "I'm like, 'Huh. So this is why you chose that restaurant.'" Though it's a great to be an enthusiastic, hard worker, when work bleeds into personal time, it can be an issue. Thankfully, Kushner has seemingly become better at carving out family since their kids came along, as Trump told People in 2020 they keep weekends sacred. "It's very seldom that we'll have a commitment on a Saturday or a Sunday. It's really about us being together," she said.

But, even so, we got a flash of another red flag when Kushner opened up about their marriage to Vogue and proved how much business influences his life by using workplace jargon. "I would say [Trump] is definitely the CEO of our household, whereas I'm more on the board of directors. We both pick up slack for each other where it's needed, but she doesn't want to outsource mothering," he said. We just hope he remembers Trump is his life partner, not his business partner.

Jared Kushner put a lot of effort (and money) into designing Ivanka Trump's engagement ring, but that still doesn't mean she wears it all the time to represent their love. Trump's engagement ring is estimated to be worth $500,000 and features a 5.22-carat cushion-cut diamond. It was even set by Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry, and Trump has shared how much she appreciated her then Kushner's sentiment. "He put so much time and effort into designing the most perfect ring for me!" she told Brides in 2009. So why is she so often spotted without the sparkler? In 2009, the TV personality said on "The View" she sometimes just forgets about it. "I was engaged for three months and then I've been married around eight days, so it's sitting on my bedside table. I forget about the hardware," she said (via People). Trump added she doesn't intentionally not wear her rings, suggesting she has attached sentimental meaning to her jewelry.

Though it's traditional for people to wear engagement and/or wedding rings at all times, we understand why Trump could find her pricey sparkler a little much for every day. However, she doesn't even slip her more understated wedding ring on each morning. The businesswoman has been spotted bare-handed multiple times, even while posing alongside Kushner (who was wearing his wedding band) and their family on Instagram in September 2024.