The US ambassador in Paris is Trump's father-in-law and also a headache for Macron

ParisWhen he had only been in office for a few weeks, the US ambassador to Paris, Charles Kushner, sent a letter to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to reproach him for not doing enough to curb antisemitic acts in the country. "Not a day goes by in the country without Jews being attacked in the streets, synagogues and schools being desecrated, and businesses owned by Jews being vandalized," Kushner stated in the letter, which was rather undiplomatic, sent at the end of August last year. Macron had announced a few days earlier that France would recognize Palestine.The letter was received with astonishment by the president and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot. Relations with the United States , but for his ambassador to criticize the fight against antisemitism in the European country with the largest Jewish population is a grave offense to France. The vexation was such that Barrot summoned Kushner to his office, but the ambassador's reaction left the government even more astounded. The diplomat did not show up. According to the French press, he was on vacation in Provence.

Charles Kushner, 71, son of Polish Jews who survived the Holocaust, was appointed by Trump in July 2025, despite not having the classic profile of an ambassador. A wealthy magnate and real estate developer, he has no diplomatic experience or training, nor does he speak French. Furthermore, in 2006 he was sentenced to two years in prison for tax evasion, witness tampering, and illegal campaign contributions. He went to prison, but President Trump pardoned him.Nepotism

Kushner, however, has the merit of being the son-in-law of the President of the United States. The ambassador to France is the father of Jared Kushner, husband of Ivana Trump, the daughter of the American leader. It is well known that the occupant of the White House habitually practices nepotism and perhaps that is why his appointment did not surprise anyone.

"I don't know much about French art or wine," admitted Charles Kushner shortly after being appointed. "But I do understand business," he assured to justify his new position in Paris. Before the American Congress, which audited him before validating his appointment, the president's son-in-law admitted to having committed "a serious mistake" with his crimes. "But I believe that my past mistakes make me better at making decisions, and in relation to the way of seeing life and values," he assured without batting an eye.

Defiant style

The new American ambassador is not only part of Donald Trump's political family but has also adopted, before the French authorities, the same provocative, defiant, and unfiltered style as his son-in-law. And, without much surprise, he has shown that diplomacy is neither among his qualities nor among his priorities. "In his eyes, international relations are similar to business negotiations, carried out through slamming doors, intimidation, and reconciliation," points out Le Monde.

The clash over the antisemitic acts was the first, but it has not been the only one. In February, a tweet from the American embassy once again triggered a diplomatic storm between Kushner and the French government. The tweet published on X referred to the death of a 23-year-old far-right activist during a mass brawl in Lyon with young people from an anti-fascist group. The US denounced "the threat that left-wing violent extremism poses to public safety" which, according to the tweet, "is increasing".

Internal affairs

In France, an old power where diplomacy is exquisite, grievances like the one posed by the message to X are not well digested. The Vienna Convention, the agreement that regulates diplomatic relations, stipulates in its article 41 that diplomats "have the duty not to interfere in the internal affairs” of the countries in which they are located.

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs denounced the "instrumentalization of the drama" that the American embassy had carried out. "We should not receive any lessons, especially regarding violence, from the reactionary international," he retorted. Barrot summoned Charles Kushner again, who this time also did not attend the meeting. In his place, he sent a member of the embassy.

“When one has the honor of representing one’s country in France, one respects the customs of diplomacy and responds to the summons of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, the minister indignantly stated on France Info. The new offense was the last straw: Jean Noël Barrot announced that he was vetoing Kushner's direct access to the French government. It is a more symbolic than real measure, but it highlights the growing fragility of diplomatic relations between Paris and Washington.