Charlie Kushner Shipping Off to France as Ambassador

Another real estate developer is about to assume an ambassadorship. Charles Kushner probably shouldn’t expect to hear lots of bonjours when he arrives in France, though.

The Senate confirmed the real estate developer to serve as the French ambassador, the Associated Press reported. The Kushner Companies founder was confirmed by a 51-45 vote that saw one Democrat, New Jersey’s Cory Booker, support the nomination.

Kushner heads overseas at a time when tensions between the United States and its European allies are ramping up, a result of Donald Trump’s trade policies and his evolving approach towards ending the conflict in Ukraine.

During his confirmation hearing, Kushner said he would “bring greater balance to our important economic relationship” and encourage the ally to “invest more in its defense capabilities, as well as lead the EU to align with the U.S. vision of increased European commitments to security.”

The then-president-elect announced Kushner’s nomination for the post in November. Four years earlier, during Trump’s first term, the president pardoned Kushner after he served a prison sentence following a conviction on federal charges of tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations.

Charles Kushner’s son, Jared Kushner, has avoided an official position in the second Trump administration; he served as a senior advisor to his father-in-law during Trump’s first four years in office.

Trump has tapped into his real estate connections to fill positions across his administration. Two of the most prominent members of his team are Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

Last month, the Senate confirmed Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta — the hospitality and real estate mogul behind Landry’s and owner of the Houston Rockets — as the ambassador to Italy and San Marino. That vote passed with strong bipartisan support, 83-14.

Fertitta stated he would resign from several high-profile leadership roles upon confirmation.

— Holden Walter-Warner