France Summons U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner Over ‘Unacceptable’ Antisemitism Letter

PARIS, August 25, 2025 - France’s Foreign Ministry formally summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner to protest an open letter he sent to President Emmanuel Macron accusing France of failing to stem a surge in antisemitic violence. The rare diplomatic rebuke underscores growing tensions between two long-standing allies amidst debates over the Gaza conflict and European security.

In his letter, published Sunday in The Wall Street Journal, Ambassador Kushner-father of Jared Kushner and a veteran real estate developer-warned that “not a day passes without Jews assaulted in the street, synagogues or schools defaced, or Jewish-owned businesses vandalized” and urged Macron to enact stronger hate-crime legislation “without exception”. He also cautioned that French gestures toward recognizing a Palestinian state risk emboldening extremists and imperiling Jewish life in France.

France’s response, delivered in a sharply worded statement, rejected Kushner’s allegations as “unacceptable” and in contravention of the Vienna Convention’s prohibition on diplomatic interference. The ministry affirmed that French authorities “have fully mobilized” to combat antisemitism, labeling such acts “intolerable” and emphasizing ongoing measures to protect Jewish communities.

The summons, scheduled for Monday at the Quai d’Orsay, marks a significant rupture in the usually harmonious transatlantic partnership. Paris insisted that Kushner’s claims “fall short of the quality of the transatlantic relationship” and undermine mutual trust between allies.

The dispute follows a similar letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accused Macron of fueling antisemitism by advocating Palestinian statehood. While Macron has publicly decried antisemitism and boosted synagogue security since October 2023, Washington’s newfound assertiveness under the Trump administration has injected fresh strain into diplomatic relations.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott affirmed support for the ambassador’s remarks, calling Kushner “our representative in France” and commending his efforts “advancing our national interests”. The White House has yet to comment directly.

Ambassador Kushner, confirmed in May of this year, is a prominent donor and was pardoned by President Trump in 2020 following a 2005 conviction for campaign finance violations, tax evasion, and witness tampering. His summons today represents one of the most pointed expressions of French displeasure toward a U.S. envoy in recent memory.