Basically the Kushner family vastly overpaid for building right before the financial crisis with money they didn't have.  They paid 1.8 Billion and the building's value plummeted after they bought it. The building is now worth way less than they paid for it, current rents don't even cover costs. They have been pouring money into this building just to cover the debt.  It's not even a fully occupied building, they are still trying to rent out a lot of it. They had a 1.2 billion dollar payment coming due in February 2019 and were scrambling to find that money.  They didn't have it.  Trump doesn't have it.   The Kushners had to get a high interest loan from a bigger real estate firm and sell them half the office space. The building isn't even worth $1.2 billion.  The Kushner's partner told the press the building would be worth more if it just dirt.     Somehow they had to convince someone to invest in an overpriced building.   Jared got into the White House and someone gave his family a shit ton of money.  This is the scandal that is waiting to be uncovered.  Somehow, the cash-strapped Kushner were swimming with money and buying out their partners and buying back the office space they sold.