President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has appointed businessman Charles Kushner, the father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Ivanka, to be the U.S. ambassador to France.
Kushner, whose job requires Senate confirmation, is the latest person Trump has chosen to have close ties to the president-elect. Kushner’s son, Jared Kushner, is married to Ivanka Trump and was a close aide to Trump during his time as president.
“I am pleased to name New Jersey native Charles Kushner as U.S. Ambassador to France. He is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, dealmaker, and strong advocate on behalf of our country and its interests. President Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“Charlie is the founder and chairman of Kushner Companies, one of the nation’s largest and most successful privately held real estate companies. He was recognized by Ernst & Young as New Jersey’s Entrepreneur of the Year; He was appointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council and served as a board member and chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a top institution including NYU.
Kushner no longer serves on New York University’s board of trustees. In 2005, he pleaded guilty to 18 counts of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering after retaliating against his brother-in-law, William Schulder, who was cooperating with federal investigators.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Mr. Kushner admitted to hiring a sex worker to seduce Mr. Schulder, videotaping the process, and sending the tape to Mr. Schulder’s wife, who is Mr. Kushner’s sister. He was sentenced to two years in prison.
President Trump pardoned Kushner in 2020, citing his “devotion to important charities and causes.”
Kushner donated $100,000 to pro-Trump groups in 2015 and $1 million to pro-Trump SuperPac in 2023.
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“Congratulations to Charlie, my wonderful wife Seryl, my four children, and my 14 grandchildren,” Trump wrote in a post announcing his nomination. President Trump did not mention that three of these grandchildren are also his grandchildren.
