Trump Appoints Pardoned Father-in-Law Charles Kushner as U.S. Ambassador to France

The U.S. Senate confirmed Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner and father-in-law to Ivanka Trump, as the U.S. ambassador to France and Monaco in a 51-45 vote, as reported by The Washington Post and Politico. The decision, backed by only one Democrat, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, and opposed by Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, has sparked debate due to Kushner’s criminal past. A real estate developer, Kushner was convicted in 2005 of tax evasion, witness tampering, and illegal campaign contributions, serving 14 months in federal prison and time in a Newark halfway house. His crimes included a scheme to retaliate against his sister, a cooperating witness, by hiring a sex worker to seduce her husband, filming the encounter, and sending the footage to her, as detailed in a 2005 Justice Department statement.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who prosecuted the case, called it “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes” he handled. At his Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Kushner acknowledged his “very, very, very serious mistake,” arguing it made him “more qualified” for the role. President Donald Trump, who pardoned Kushner in 2020, nominated him in November 2024, praising him as a “tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker.” Kushner’s confirmation comes as U.S.-France relations face strain over tariffs and differing stances on the Ukraine war. He vowed to strengthen ties with “our oldest ally” and push France to bolster defense spending and align with U.S. security goals, stating, “If confirmed, I am dedicated to building an even stronger relationship between the United States and our oldest ally, France.”

France’s former ambassador to the U.S., Gérard Araud, criticized the nomination, writing on X, “I recommend reading his resume. ‘Juicy,’ as the Americans would say. Needless to say, he doesn’t have the slightest knowledge of our country.” Kushner’s appointment follows other Trump family-related nominations, including Massad Boulos as a senior adviser and Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece, signaling a pattern of familial influence in Trump’s second term. Despite his controversial past, Kushner’s access to Trump may shape U.S.-France diplomacy, though skepticism persists about his qualifications.