In Paris, the American ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, has sparked a diplomatic storm: his letter dated August 24, 2025 to Emmanuel Macron accuses France of inaction in the face of the surge in anti-Semitism. Summoned on August 25 to the Quai d’Orsay, this close associate of the Trump clan and Benyamin Netanyahu crystallizes issues of non-interference, memory, and security, against a backdrop of a controversial profile and lack of diplomatic experience.
An Ambassador from Business and the Trump Clan
At 71, Charles Kushner has been the United States ambassador to France since spring 2025, after a narrow confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Coming from real estate, he founded Kushner Companies in 1985, a pillar of a family empire estimated at several billion dollars. An influential figure in New Jersey, he is also a significant political donor.
This trajectory is at the heart of the Trump clan: his son Jared Kushner married Ivanka Trump in 2009 and became a key advisor during the 2016 campaign and the first term of Donald Trump. The appointment of Charles Kushner to Paris was seen by many diplomats as a political post given to an ally and donor, in an American tradition that often reserves the most coveted embassies for those close to the presidents.
A Criminal Record That Still Weighs
The new American representative arrives with a major shadow: in 2005, he pleaded guilty to tax fraud, illegal campaign contributions, and witness tampering. The most notable episode remains a sextape blackmail targeting his brother-in-law, then a potential witness in an investigation. Charles Kushner was sentenced to two years in prison, part of which was served in detention. He was pardoned at the end of 2020 by Donald Trump, who erased these convictions from his record.
During his Senate hearing in May 2025, he acknowledged a "very, very, very serious mistake". However, he assured that he had "paid a heavy price." Moreover, these elements fuel doubts in Paris as well as in Washington. Indeed, there are questions about the appropriateness of entrusting such a profile with a mission at the heart of the transatlantic partnership.
Personal Networks and Pro-Israel Positioning
A pillar of the Jewish community in New Jersey, Charles Kushner is a close associate of Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, whom he has hosted in the United States in the past. He has made the fight against anti-Semitism and support for Israel public priorities. This network, combined with his convictions, partly explains the very aggressive stance he adopts today from Paris.
A Letter That Ignites the Powder Keg
The letter dated August 24, 2025 addressed to Emmanuel Macron triggered a diplomatic crisis. The ambassador denounces "the surge of anti-Semitism" in France and "the lack of sufficient action" by the government. He associates, without hesitation, gestures in favor of the recognition of a Palestinian state with an exacerbation of violence. Furthermore, he asserts that "anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism".
The Quai d’Orsay summoned the ambassador on August 25, 2025. They described his remarks as "unacceptable", "erroneous", and "abject". Moreover, they recalled the prohibition of interference in internal affairs. The episode comes after already tense relations between Paris and Jerusalem regarding the international recognition of the State of Palestine.
What Diplomatic Law Says
The applicable framework is the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961). Its Article 41 establishes a central principle: diplomatic agents have the duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of the accredited state. Although freedom of expression for diplomats exists, customs require measured statements. Indeed, this is particularly important on highly sensitive domestic political issues.
In case of breach, the host state has graduated tools: summoning and reprimand, official protests, or, in extreme cases, the declaration of persona non grata (expulsion). In an allied relationship like that between Paris and Washington, the summoning is already a strong signal.
The State of Anti-Semitism in France: Recent Data
Since the attacks of October 7, 2023, France has recorded an increase in anti-Semitic acts. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 646 acts were recorded between January and June 2025 (− 27.5% compared to 2024, but + 112.5% compared to 2023). In 2024, 1,570 acts "resulting in a complaint" were counted, of which 65% were attacks on individuals. Recent incidents – vandalism, threats, cases of discrimination – have fueled a climate of concern.
These figures provide a basis for public security policies. Moreover, they are essential for the protection of places of worship. Additionally, they contribute to education, particularly the memory of the Holocaust and civic education. They do not exclude the need for constant vigilance. Furthermore, a calm debate on the boundary between criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism remains essential.
Why Kushner’s Missive Ruffles Paris So Much
Four factors combine:
- The timing of the publication of a letter during the commemorations of the Liberation of Paris (August 25) is crucial. Moreover, it gives the missive a strong symbolic charge, perceived as an instrumentalization by some French actors.
- The form: addressing the head of state publicly with injunctions is interpreted as a breach of protocol, especially between allies.
- The substance of the assimilation of anti-Zionism to anti-Semitism is a long-standing debate in France. Moreover, the ambassador’s position clashes with a tradition of freedom of expression. Furthermore, it affects pluralism on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
- The context: the recognition of a Palestinian state has become a pillar of French diplomacy. Suggesting that it "stokes violence" is perceived as a direct challenge to Paris’s choices.
The Political and Bilateral Dynamics
On the American side, Charles Kushner embodies a Trumpist line: security at the forefront, alignment with the Israeli government’s policy, priority to deterrence and repression of anti-Semitic acts. On the French side, the executive emphasizes a total mobilization against anti-Semitism, combined with an active diplomacy. This diplomacy claims the recognition of Palestinian rights and the two-state solution.
This dissonance increases the political cost of the France-U.S. relationship, reviving historical sensitivities. The memory of Vichy and the role of the Allies are involved, exposing both capitals to their public opinions. Moreover, it risks importing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into the French domestic debate. European partners are closely watching, as the balance between fighting hatred and public freedoms is a shared issue.
What Could Happen Next?
In the short term, the summoning to the Quai d’Orsay should result in a firm reminder of the red lines. Technical exchanges may follow to defuse the incident: coordinated communication, targeted messages on the security of Jewish sites, and cooperation on hate crime prevention.
In the medium term, three scenarios:
- Channeling the ambassador’s public speech, without questioning his mandate: the most likely option if Washington and Paris prioritize stability.
- Verbal escalation and media counterattacks, with mobilization of political allies: a scenario that would undermine transatlantic trust.
- De-escalation gesture (joint communication, symbolic visit, concrete cooperation) to refocus the bilateral agenda (defense, NATO, Ukraine, economy, climate).
What the Crisis Reveals About the Two Diplomacies
On the French side, the line is twofold: total mobilization against anti-Semitic acts and recognition of Palestinian rights with a view to a two-state solution. This approach claims the sovereignty of French diplomatic decision-making, with attention to internal balance (security, public freedoms, national cohesion).
On the U.S. side, Charles Kushner carries a security-oriented and highly aligned view with the Israeli government: priority to deterrence, assimilation of anti-Zionism to anti-Semitism, call for more coercive measures. This rhetoric appeals to certain American electoral segments (conservatives, evangelicals, part of the Jewish communities) and reinforces an image of firmness internationally.
The dissonance does not mean a rupture: common interests remain high (European security, industry, energy transition). But it increases the political cost of the France-U.S. relationship: each capital must deal with its public opinions and internal coalitions.
Precedents, Practices, and "Red Lines"
The Vienna Convention (1961) establishes non-interference (Article 41) as a principle. The graduated tools range from summoning to declaration of persona non grata. At the current stage, Paris sends a clear warning: cooperation is possible, interference is not.
Another lever, upstream: the agreement. A state can refuse the agreement of an ambassador without providing reasons. France uses it sparingly among allies. Hence the importance of practices: sobriety of speech, respect for rituals (letters of credence, coordinated messages), discreet management of disagreements.
Three Issues to Watch in the Coming Weeks
- Security of Jewish sites: strengthening of forces around schools and synagogues, dedicated funding for security (video surveillance, access control), and increased judicial coordination for hate crimes.
- Recognition of the State of Palestine: clarifications on the timeline, the scope (symbolic, legal, bilateral), and European coordination. Each position will be scrutinized by Washington and Jerusalem.
- Transatlantic agenda: avoiding the controversy from overshadowing structural issues (Ukraine, NATO, trade, climate). Joint announcements could serve as political buffers.
Political Reading Grid
For Emmanuel Macron: emphasizing the sovereignty of French diplomacy is essential. He wants to maintain a firm stance against antisemitism. However, he wishes to avoid reducing the debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to a binary opposition. Avoid the importation of foreign fractures into domestic politics. Nurture the relationship with the Jewish community while protecting freedom of expression within the framework of the law.
For Charles Kushner: testing the limits and setting an agenda. The advantage is visibility, the risk is the boomerang effect: image of interference, loss of credibility with French interlocutors, and possible future restriction of his public speech.
For Benyamin Netanyahu: extending, through allies, a message of firmness aimed at Western opinions. Expected effect: tightening solidarity around Israel. Collateral effect: stiffening of European partners, who intend to maintain their strategic autonomy.
For Washington and Paris: a useful stress test. If operational cooperation continues in the areas of security, intelligence, and defense, the episode will be useful. Indeed, it will reinforce the importance of these collaborations for the future. Indeed, it will serve as a reminder of the value of diplomatic practices.
Brief Biographical Landmarks
- 1954: birth of Charles Kushner in Elizabeth (New Jersey) in a family originating from Eastern Europe.
- 1985: founding of Kushner Companies.
- 2005: conviction for tax fraud, illegal contributions, and witness tampering (two years in prison).
- 2020: presidential pardon by Donald Trump.
- May 19, 2025: confirmation by the Senate as United States ambassador to France.
- August 24, 2025: letter to Emmanuel Macron on antisemitism in France.
- August 25, 2025: summoning to the Quai d’Orsay.
After the Diplomatic Storm: What Remains to Be Done for Paris and Washington
This matter is based on a simple tension: fighting antisemitism without restricting the public debate on the Middle East. Moreover, it is essential to preserve diplomatic practices between allies. Charles Kushner’s letter forced the clarification of French red lines. The outcome will depend less on statements than on the ability of the two capitals to produce concrete results: security, prevention, cooperation. This is where the credibility of each truly lies.