France Summons U.S. Ambassador Kushner Over Antisemitism Letter to Macron/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ France summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner after he accused French leadership of not doing enough to fight antisemitism. His comments drew condemnation from France’s foreign ministry, which called them “unacceptable” and a breach of diplomatic norms. The dispute adds new strain to U.S.-France relations amid wider geopolitical disagreements.
France-U.S. Antisemitism Letter Clash: Quick Looks
- France summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner over his letter to President Macron.
- Kushner accused France of failing to combat antisemitism since October 7 Hamas attacks.
- France’s foreign ministry condemned the comments as “unacceptable” and interference in internal affairs.
- U.S. State Department backed Kushner, calling his work “advancing national interests.”
- Kushner’s letter criticized French gestures toward Palestinian state recognition.
- Macron recently rejected Netanyahu’s claims that France was fueling antisemitism.
- France has Europe’s largest Jewish population, around 500,000 people.
- Diplomatic tensions rise amid existing disagreements over UN peacekeeping and Ukraine.
France Summons U.S. Ambassador Kushner Over Antisemitism Letter to Macron
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — A diplomatic storm erupted between France and the United States after U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner penned a strongly worded letter to French President Emmanuel Macron, accusing France of failing to sufficiently combat rising antisemitism in the country. In response, the French government summoned Kushner to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on Monday, calling his allegations “unacceptable.”
The letter, made public late Sunday, has been sharply condemned by France’s foreign ministry. Officials argue that Kushner’s remarks amount to interference in domestic matters and violate international diplomatic norms.
“They also fall short of the quality of the transatlantic partnership between France and the United States,” the ministry stated.
Kushner, a real estate developer and father-in-law to former senior White House advisor Jared Kushner, wrote that Macron’s administration had failed to enforce hate-crime laws or provide adequate protection for Jewish institutions.
He also criticized French diplomatic moves that he claims “legitimize Hamas and its allies,” including recent gestures toward recognizing a Palestinian state.
“Public statements haranguing Israel and gestures toward recognition of a Palestinian state embolden extremists, fuel violence and endanger Jewish life in France,” Kushner wrote. He urged Macron to take immediate action: “Enforce hate-crime laws without exception, ensure the safety of Jewish schools, synagogues and businesses … and abandon steps that give legitimacy to Hamas and its allies.”
France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish population—estimated at 500,000 people—has reported a notable rise in antisemitic incidents following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. French authorities, however, say they are actively combating such acts and reject Kushner’s suggestion that they have been negligent.
“France firmly rejects these allegations,” the foreign ministry said, adding that antisemitic acts are “intolerable” and that authorities are “fully mobilized” to address the threat.
The diplomatic conflict comes at a sensitive time in Franco-American relations. While both nations have recently expressed alignment on some global issues, such as support for Ukraine, other divisions persist. France has resisted the U.S. push to scale down the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a vote on which is expected at the U.N. Security Council by the end of the month.
Additionally, a long-simmering trade war reignited earlier in the year under President Donald Trump’s administration, further straining ties. The Kushner controversy adds another layer of complexity to an already tense transatlantic relationship.
The U.S. State Department, however, stood by Kushner.
Spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated on Sunday evening that Kushner was “doing a great job advancing our national interests.” The White House has not issued an official response.
Macron, for his part, has already pushed back against previous criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accused France of encouraging antisemitism through its consideration of Palestinian statehood recognition. Macron rejected those claims earlier this month.
Adding to the controversy is Kushner’s personal history. Charles Kushner was pardoned by Trump at the end of his first term after pleading guilty to charges of tax evasion and illegal campaign contributions. His son, Jared Kushner, served as a senior advisor in the Trump White House and is married to Ivanka Trump.
While Kushner’s appointment to the ambassador role has raised eyebrows in some diplomatic circles, he has been a vocal advocate for Jewish causes and U.S.-Israel relations. His latest letter, however, is being viewed by France as a breach of diplomatic decorum and a potentially damaging escalation in an already delicate relationship.
Observers now wait to see how the Biden administration will navigate the fallout, especially as key international negotiations and U.N. votes loom. Whether the issue can be resolved quietly through diplomatic channels or becomes a wider political controversy remains to be seen.
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