President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday that he plans to nominate Charles Kushner, the billionaire father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as the next U.S. ambassador to France.
Trump had pardoned the elder Kushner, a real estate scion, for a felony conviction from the mid-2000s which landed Kushner in prison for more than a year.
“He is a great business leader, philanthropist and dealmaker who will be a strong advocate for representing our country and its interests,” Trump said. wrote on his Truth Social platformsaying Kushner would help “strengthen America’s partnership with France, our oldest ally and one of our greatest!”
Trump noted Kushner’s 1999 New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year title from the firm Ernst & Young, along with other achievements that predated his legal demise. Trump didn’t mention Kushner donated $1 million in support of his successful bid for the White House in 2024.
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After his conviction, Kushner, who had been a lawyer, was disbarred in three states: New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The charges included tax evasion, illegal campaign finance contributions and retaliation against a witness.
“Congratulations to Charlie, his wonderful wife Seryl, their four children and fourteen grandchildren,” Trump wrote. “His son, Jared, has worked closely with me in the White House, particularly on Operation Warp Speed, criminal justice reform and the Abraham Accords.”
Jared Kushner married Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, in 2009. Although the pair held key advisory positions in the first Trump administration, they are not expected to participate in the second.
According to Forbesthe Kushner family is worth an estimated $7.1 billion, with real estate holdings that include properties owned by Kushner Companies and properties owned by individual family members.