As Donald Trump continues to shape the GOP and prepare for his second term, his extended family’s financial and professional fortunes appear to be rising once again. One striking recent development? The Senate’s confirmation of Charles Kushner—the father of Ivanka Trump’s husband, Jared—as U.S. Ambassador to France.
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The appointment has once again stirred conversations about how the Trump presidency might have opened doors for certain family members.
Charles Kushner confirmed as ambassador to France
Charles Kushner’s appointment to one of the most prestigious diplomatic positions in Europe has sparked widespread debate. On May 20, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Kushner as ambassador to France with a 51-45 vote. The move, initiated by Donald Trump during his second presidential campaign, was controversial not just because of Kushner’s political ties, but also his criminal past.
Kushner had been pardoned by Trump in 2020 after pleading guilty in 2005 to 18 charges, including tax evasion and witness tampering. His most notorious offence involved hiring a prostitute to entrap his brother-in-law and sending a video of the encounter to his own sister in an attempt to intimidate her.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who prosecuted the case, once described it as 'one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes' he had ever handled.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kushner addressed his past head-on:
I made a very, very, very serious mistake, and I paid a very heavy price for that mistake.
Still, some lawmakers voiced concerns about his suitability. Senator Jeanne Shaheen remarked that the nomination came at a time when 'our European allies are anxious.'
Despite the past controversies, Charles Kushner now heads to Paris. At the hearing, he pledged to 'bring greater balance to our important economic relationship' with France and promote European alignment with U.S. defence policies.
Who is Charles Kushner?
Charles Kushner is no stranger to public attention. Founder of Kushner Companies, a multibillion-dollar real estate enterprise, he built his fortune in New Jersey before his son Jared, expanded the business into Manhattan. Trump praised him as a 'tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker' in his nomination post.
But his business success has long been overshadowed by legal troubles. His 2005 conviction was particularly sensational, involving not only tax fraud and illegal donations but also the elaborate entrapment scheme against a cooperating family member. He served two years in prison and later paid over $500,000 to the Federal Election Commission for violating campaign finance laws.
Since completing his sentence, Charles Kushner has made efforts to rebuild his public image. According to the White House, during Trump’s first term, his 'record of reform and charity' justified the presidential pardon he received in 2020. Yet, his past continues to cast a long shadow over his new diplomatic role.
Inside the Kushner family
Despite all of the controversies that surround the Kushner family, they have remained a tight-knit unit. Charles and his wife Seryl had four children who have been carrying on the Kushner name in their own way.
If Charles Kushner is the family patriarch, his son Jared is undoubtedly its most politically visible member. Raised in Livingston, New Jersey, Jared was just 24 when he stepped up to run Kushner Companies while his father served time. He is now the CEO of the family business, and was also previously a senior advisor to Donald Trump during his first term.
His brother Joshua Kushner founded his own company, a venture capitalist firm called Thrive Capital. He has been married to supermodel Karlie Kloss since 2018 and they have two children Levi, 4, and Elijah, 1.
As per Town and Country Magazine, Nicole and Dara live rather low-profile lives compared to their brothers. Nicole is a principal at Kushner Companies while her husband is the chief executive of Observer Media—an online media company founded by Jared Kushner. Little is known about Dara, however the publication reports that she lives in Livingston with her family.
The Kushners trace their lineage to Holocaust survivors who immigrated to the U.S. in 1949. Jared’s grandmother, Rae Kushner, famously escaped from Nazi persecution by tunnelling out of a ghetto in Belarus.
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Sources used:
AP News: Senate confirms Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law, as ambassador to France
Chicago Tribune: Trump pardoned his son-in-law’s dad. Here’s what Charles Kushner did
Town and Country Magazine: 8 Things You Should Know About the Kushner Family
Newsweek: Trump names Charles Kushner ambassador to France after controversial pardon
