US Ambassador to France Skips Diplomatic Meetings, Sparking Tensions

Charles Kushner, President Trump's ambassador to France, has repeatedly failed to attend required diplomatic meetings after controversial statements. The property developer with no diplomatic background has clashed with French officials over his public criticism of France's handling of antisemitism.

President Trump’s ambassador to France is creating diplomatic headaches in Paris after repeatedly skipping mandatory meetings with French government officials.

Charles Kushner, a real estate developer who took the ambassadorial post last summer, has disrupted traditional diplomatic relations between the United States and France through his unconventional approach to the role once filled by founding fathers Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

The 71-year-old businessman, who has no prior diplomatic background and served federal prison time for campaign finance violations and tax fraud before receiving a Trump pardon in 2020, made waves shortly after his arrival by penning a public letter to French President Emmanuel Macron criticizing France’s efforts to combat antisemitism.

Macron responded sharply to the ambassador’s public critique, calling Kushner’s remarks an “unacceptable statement for somebody who is supposed to be a diplomat.” When French officials summoned Kushner to the foreign ministry for an explanation, he failed to appear.

The ambassador again skipped a required meeting on Monday after the U.S. Embassy reposted social media comments from the State Department’s counterterrorism office regarding the death of a French far-right activist.

Following Monday’s absence, French diplomatic sources indicated Kushner would be prohibited from meeting with government officials. However, the situation shifted Tuesday when Kushner contacted Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot by phone.

According to a source familiar with the conversation, Kushner “expressed his desire not to interfere in our public debate” during the call. The two officials agreed to schedule an in-person meeting in the coming days.

The U.S. Embassy released a statement describing the phone conversation as “frank and amicable,” with both sides “reaffirming their shared commitment to working together” on issues affecting both nations as they mark 250 years of diplomatic ties.

French legal scholar Julien Jeanneney, who specializes in American constitutional law, described the situation as a “power struggle” between Kushner and France’s foreign ministry that began with the ambassador’s antisemitism letter.

“The function of a diplomat is not to lecture the country where he is posted, at least not publicly,” Jeanneney explained. “Publishing such a letter goes against basic diplomatic customs. And not responding to the summons from the foreign minister is… a sign of defiance.”

Kushner’s behavior reflects a broader pattern among Trump’s European ambassadors, who the administration says are confronting Europe’s risk of “civilisational erasure.”

In Poland, Ambassador Tom Rose severed communication with the parliament speaker after failing to gain support for Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize candidacy. Meanwhile, Belgian officials summoned Ambassador Bill White over allegations of antisemitism related to restrictions on unauthorized circumcisions.

Tensions between Paris and the Trump administration extend beyond Kushner’s actions, encompassing disagreements on trade policies, European sovereignty, digital regulations, and free speech issues.

However, sources from both countries suggest Kushner’s primary motivation stems from his Orthodox Jewish faith and concerns about antisemitism rather than broader “Make America Great Again” objectives.

“I don’t see him with a MAGA cap,” observed Nicolas Conquer, who leads a Trump-inspired French policy organization and maintains contact with Kushner’s staff. “He is not the standard-bearer of MAGA in France.”

Philippe Karsenty, spokesperson for Comité Trump France who has met with Kushner multiple times, said the ambassador views antisemitism as a dangerous threat to democratic society that must be addressed urgently.

“It is about ensuring that France in 2026 is not France in 1939,” Karsenty stated.

American officials acknowledged that Kushner’s public letter created diplomatic friction but argued it prompted French authorities to take action. While antisemitic incidents reached unprecedented levels following the 2023 Gaza conflict, they decreased by 16% in the past year compared to 2024.

Both French and American officials noted that Kushner’s family connection to Trump – he is the father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – provides diplomatic advantages, even though Macron typically communicates directly with Trump via mobile phone.

The ambassador speaks no French and has demonstrated little interest in learning the language, according to officials from both nations. He depends heavily on his chief of staff, Gabriel Scheinmann, who is fluent in French and skilled at navigating France’s political landscape.

Officials also noted Kushner’s unusual schedule, retiring early each evening and typically sending emails beginning around 4:30 a.m.

“He wakes up early, goes to bed early, does not host useless receptions,” Karsenty said. “He meets very few unnecessary people. He is not at an age to learn a language, and he did not come for that. He came to act.”