Donald Trump Taps Charles Kushner, Dad of Jared, As The Incoming Ambassador To France
President-elect Donald Trump nominated his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s father, Charles Kushner, for a key diplomatic role as he prepares to take office.
Trump, 78, announced on Saturday afternoon that barring his confirmation in the Senate, Charles will serve as the US Ambassador of France.
‘He is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, [and] dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests,’ the businessman wrote on Truth Social.
‘Congratulations to Charlie, his wonderful wife Seryl, their 4 children, & 14 grandchildren,’ the family-first politician wrote. ‘Together, we will strengthen America’s partnership with France, our oldest Ally, & one of our greatest!’
Jared had previously worked for the former Trump Administration, working on Operation Warp Speed, criminal justice reform and the Abraham Accords.
Jared and his wife Ivanka, Trump’s daughter, have taken a back seat roles this election cycle and administration as they focus on their own goals and their family life in Florida.
Trump also highlighted some of the NYU graduate’s accomplishments, including founding Kushner Companies, a private real estate firm.
The former president pardoned Charles in 2020. The father-of-four was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for a tax fraud conviction, according to NJ.com. He only served 14 months in federal prison.
Charles, the son of a Holocaust survivor, was one of 26 people that Trump fully pardoned during his first term.
Charles came under federal investigation after a family dispute with his business partner Murray over campaign contributions.
It was later discovered Jared’s father had defrauded the IRS from between $200,000 and $325,000 through wrongfully filing campaign contributions as ‘office expenses’ on 16 tax returns, according to NJ.com.
He helped host fundraising events for President Bill Clinton, VP Al Gore, and Senator Joseph Lieberman. He also supported Governor James McGreevey and was the single largest contributor to his 2001 campaign.
He was also charged for paying $25,000 for a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law and then had it filmed to send to his sister, the outlet reported.
This witness tampering charge was one of 18 counts that Charles pled guilty to in 2005.
At the time, then-US Attorney Chris Christie said: ‘No matter how rich and powerful you are or poor and unpowerful, if you have violated the federal law in the district of New Jersey or if you are corrupting our political system, this office will bring you to justice.
‘Today, Charles Kushner was brought to justice.’
He called Charles’ crimes the ‘most loathsome, disgusting crimes’ he had ever prosecuted.
Charles is a 1976 graduate of New York University, where he earned an MBA and law degree.
He previously practiced law for four years before opening his real estate business with his father and wife’s brother.
Their real estate business garnered more than $3 billion in property in the Garden State and beyond.
When pardoning Charles, Trump said Jared’s father had ‘devoted’ himself to ‘important philanthropic organizations and causes’ since completing his sentence in 2006.
‘His record of reform and charity overshadows Mr. Kushner’s conviction and two year sentence for preparing false tax returns, witness retaliation, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission,’ Trump said at the time.
He did not mention Charles’ conviction or pardon in his announcement on Saturday.
Despite Charles’ new position in the administration, Ivanka and Jared have long been vocal about their plans to stay out of politics.
While Ivanka said the couple would ‘prioritize my children and the private life we are creating as a family’ in 2022, Jared more recently said in the lead-up to the election that even if Trump won, it wouldn’t mean ‘a major shift in terms of what we prioritize.’
‘We’re rooting for him — obviously, we’re proud of him,’ Jared admitted. ‘But, you know, either way, our life will just continue to move forward.’
He told the New York Times that Ivanka ‘made the decision when she left Washington that she was closing that chapter of her life. And she’s been remarkably consistent.’
One more photo below.
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