Steve Witkoff started his Wednesday at breakfast with three recently-released hostages and their families and then — with a heavy security detail — headed to The Real Deal’s new development forum.
That’s the kind of hectic schedule he has had ever since taking the job as Special Envoy to the Middle East. But Witkoff said his family business has been running smoothly since handing it over to his son Alex.
“There’s really been no hiccups. I’d love to tell you that I meant all the difference in the world, but evidently I haven’t,” he joked, showing off some of the easygoing charm supporters say help him in some of the most high-stakes negotiations. “What I’m doing now is worthy and it’s important, and on behalf of President Trump we’re having some real success in the world.”
The crowd at the Metropolitan Pavilion rose to their feet to take pictures as both Witkoffs took the stage for a wide-ranging interview on politics, real estate and the succession of the family business with TRD Publisher Amir Korangy.
The elder Witkoff said it wasn’t a hard decision to hand the company over to his son as he headed to Washington, adding they were both aided by Witkoff partner and longtime president Scott Alper.
Witkoff said he’s completely stepped away from the business now (Alex said he wouldn’t even text his father about any big upcoming deals) but is confident the company will continue to succeed in his absence.
“I think the company may grow bigger,” he explained, adding that the people at the company now are “going to get their time in the limelight.”
As for the younger Witkoff’s vision for the business, Alex said the family is expanding into areas like data centers and crypto stablecoins with their World Liberty Financial coin, which the Trump family is also invested in.
When it came to joining the Trump administration, Witkoff explained that he started having conversations on the campaign trail with his longtime friend about what kind of role he could play.
“I felt I could make a difference if I had something to do with the negotiations in the Middle East. And so [Trump] said to me, ‘Well, let’s just call you Special Envoy,’” Witkoff said.
When asked if he felt any impostor syndrome when beginning the role, Witkoff said, “It’s an awesome responsibility and if you get it wrong, people can die. So I think you have to be really committed. I spent a lot of time over there in the Middle East, and I like to think we did good work and we’re continuing to do good work.”
He attributed his success negotiating Israeli hostage releases to his friendship with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed and referred to his longtime friendship with Trump and other big figures in the real estate industry.
He said his former partner, Larry Gluck, who died last year at the age of 71, was “an exceptional partner and I loved him.”
“I called him one of the most courageous people I ever knew because he had ALS,” he said. “It was not an easy last ten years for him.”
Later in the day, Mayor Eric Adams took the stage to talk housing. But Korangy took the chance to ask Witkoff if he would ever consider running for mayor.
“Not even a shot,” Witkoff snapped back with a smile, adding he had no political ambitions beyond working in Trump’s administration. “And I’m never walking back from those comments.”
Witkoff said Trump often tells him that the real estate guys in New York are the toughest guys in the world, but they’ve got nothing on politicians in Washington.
“I couldn’t agree with him more,” he said. “It is a nasty business in Washington.”
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In real estate, Witkoff is royalty. In DC, he’s the president’s man
