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

ParisWhen he had only been in office for a few weeks, the US ambassador in Paris, Charles Kushner, sent a letter to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to reproach him that he was 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 Jewish-owned businesses being vandalized," Kushner stated in the rather undiplomatic letter, sent at the end of August last year. Macron had announced just a few days earlier that France would recognize Palestine.

The missive was received with consternation by the president and by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot. Relations with the United States had been strained since Donald Trump's arrival in the White House, 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 humiliation was such that Barrot summoned Kushner to his office, but the ambassador's reaction left the government even more stunned. The diplomat did not show up. According to the French press, he was on vacation in Provence.

Charles Kushner, 71 years old and the son of Polish Jewish Holocaust survivors, 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 president. It is well known that the tenant of the White House habitually practices nepotism and perhaps that is why his appointment surprised no one.

"I don't know much about French art or wine," Charles Kushner admitted 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 the same provocative, defiant, and unfiltered style of his son-in-law before French authorities. And, not surprisingly, he has shown that diplomacy is neither among his qualities nor his priorities. "In his eyes, international relations are similar to business negotiations, done through slamming doors, intimidation, and reconciliations," points out Le Monde.

The clash over 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 militant during a mass brawl in Lyon with young people from an anti-fascist group. The US denounced "the threat that violent left-wing 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 easily digested. The Vienna Convention, the agreement that governs diplomatic relations, states in its Article 41 that diplomats "have the duty not to interfere in the internal affairs” of the countries where they are located.

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs denounced the "instrumentalization of the drama" carried out by the American embassy. "We must not receive any lessons, especially regarding violence, from the reactionary international," he snapped. 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.