A new profile in The New Yorker examines the role of Charles Kushner, father of President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who's served as U.S. ambassador to France since 2025.
Discussing Trump's ambassador appointees, Eric Rubin, a former U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria, told The New Yorker's Lauren Collins, “Every Administration has what we call ‘clunkers,’ but we’ve never had quite this number of flagrantly unqualified people.”
From the beginning, it was clear —even by Kushner’s own admission — that he didn’t have the experience required for the coveted role. But being the father of President Trump’s son-in-law seemingly trumped all prerequisites. Kushner has no previous diplomatic experience. The New Jersey real-estate developer never served as a diplomat or lived abroad before taking office in 2025. Because he does not speak the native language, there is a communication barrier that could hinder his ability to engage with his host country. Kushner said publicly that he knew “a limited amount about France” when he arrived in the country.
Since taking on the role, Kushner has not been received well by French government officials, primarily because he is viewed as disrespectful to French protocols, which has caused friction. In one example, author Lauren Collins notes that Kushner failed to meet with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot when serious issues arose between the two countries. Kushner’s disregard for the meetings further complicated diplomatic relations rather than assisting in managing tensions between the United States and France. Kushner, instead, saw the meeting request as a form of reprimand rather than a chance to create reconciliation and understanding between the two. Explaining why he ignored the first summons, Kushner said, “I'm seventy-two years old. I'm not getting called to the principal at this stage in my life.”
Kushner has been publicly critical of France’s domestic policies, intervening when many believe he should not have. The author gives the example of Kushner visiting former President Nicolas Sarkozy in prison before criticizing Sarkozy's imprisonment, saying it was a “terrible slap in the face to France,” despite Sarkozy's conviction. Kushner himself has also been asked to answer questions about a controversial past, which includes tax fraud and intimidation schemes.
Kushner hasn’t seemed interested in the relationship-building crucial for his role, nor does he seem to have a presence at important events, such as official receptions and ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Instead, he prefers events that are deemed more entertaining to him, such as his efforts to bring an NFL regular-season game to Paris.
Kushner’s behavior has made many in the general public and internationally question whether he is an effective representative of the United States. Furthermore, it calls into question the long-term effects and how U.S. politics are viewed globally.
