This is the story of a four-decade-long partnership that began in 1986. At the time, New York lawyer Steve Witkoff assisted developer Donald Trump with one of the many "deals" that have peppered the career of the current US president. Witkoff went on to develop his own real estate empire, valued at around a billion dollars, in connection with Trump.

The two men became so intimate that Witkoff moved to Florida, not far from Trump's residence and their favorite golf course. In November 2023, Witkoff testified on behalf of his "buddy," accused of fraud in a New York court. In September 2024, Witkoff was at Trump's side during the assassination attempt that targeted the then-Republican candidate in the middle of a round of golf. Two months later, it was Witkoff whom the now re-elected Trump chose to become his special envoy to the Middle East.

Witkoff's appointment came as a surprise because of his total lack of diplomatic experience, both on the Middle East and in general. Few observers realized that Trump, after appointing his son-in-law Jared Kushner to the post during his first term, from 2017 to 2021, chose in Witkoff a figure at least as close to himself.

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