Charles Kushner Assumes Role as U.S. Ambassador to France, Vows to Fight Antisemitism in Emotional First Visit
Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner and father-in-law to Ivanka Trump, formally assumed his post on Friday as the United States Ambassador to France and Monaco. His appointment, confirmed by the Senate in May with a 51-45 vote, marks a significant diplomatic chapter for the businessman and political figure, whose controversial past continues to shadow his public service.
Upon arrival in Paris, Kushner and his wife Seryl made a poignant first stop at the Memorial de la Shoah, France’s preeminent Holocaust museum. “As the child of Holocaust survivors and representing the greatest country in the world, visiting the Memorial de la Shoah as my first stop in France was deeply personal,” Kushner said. “The memory of the Shoah demands vigilance. Fighting antisemitism will be at the heart of my mission.”
Kushner also paid his respects at the Suresnes American Cemetery, one of 25 U.S. cemeteries in France honoring American servicemembers who died during World Wars I and II.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee extended congratulations, saying, “When the President appointed Charlie and Seryl Kushner as Ambassador to France, he chose two of the most wonderful people on earth to represent the USA and Donald Trump.”
Kushner’s appointment, however, has stirred criticism due to his criminal history. In 2005, he pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion, witness tampering, and making illegal campaign donations. He served two years in prison and was pardoned by then-President Trump in 2020.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kushner addressed the issue head-on: “I don’t sit here before you today and tell you I’m a perfect person. I am not a perfect person. I made a very, very, very serious mistake, and I paid a very heavy price for that mistake,” he told lawmakers. “I think that my past mistakes actually make me better with my judgment, better in my view of life, better in my values to really make me more qualified to do this job.”
As ambassador, Kushner will now be tasked with advancing American interests in France and Monaco at a time of evolving global challenges and increasing concern over antisemitism in Europe—an issue he has pledged to confront with personal commitment and diplomatic resolve.
