Jason Greenblatt, President Donald Trump’s former Middle East negotiator, made his first public speech since leaving the White House on Sunday night.
Greenblatt, 52, who worked as a lawyer for Trump for two decades prior to joining the administration, spoke at Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck, New Jersey, the Modern Orthodox synagogue where he is a member. The event was raising money for a new Holocaust memorial in the township, which has a significant Jewish population.
Sporting a black yarmulke and an American and Israeli flag lapel pin, Greenblatt delivered a long and wide-ranging speech that recounted how his Hungarian-born parents survived the Holocaust and how their stories had impacted him. As his wife and four of his six children listened in the audience, he also denounced the recent spike in anti-Semitic attacks, though he cautioned against pointing fingers at anyone in particular for the increase.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency spoke with Greenblatt after the event. Here is the conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity.
JTA: What has your life been like since leaving the White House?
Greenblatt: I’m really enjoying it. I have breakfast with my wife every morning. I’m having a lot of very interesting meetings. But mostly spending time with my family, trying to catch up on three years and really just trying to be a father and a husband again.
What are your career plans now?
I don’t know yet. I’m doing some consulting. I want to explore what the opportunities are and where my talents best lie. But I’d like to keep my foot in the region. I’d like to be involved with that to the extent I can and support the White House to the degree that they continue to work on this file. READ MORE
