Tensions have flared between France and the United States after US Ambassador Charles Kushner was formally summoned by the French foreign ministry on Sunday, following the publication of a controversial letter accusing France of not doing enough to combat antisemitism.
Kushner, a prominent figure and father-in-law to Ivanka Trump, publicly criticized the French government in an open letter to President Emmanuel Macron, which appeared in the Wall Street Journal. In it, he expressed concern over what he called the “rise of antisemitism” in France and a “lack of sufficient action” to address it.
“I write to you today out of deep concern for the safety of Jewish communities in France,” Kushner stated, claiming the country is falling short in responding to antisemitic incidents.
The French government called the remarks “unacceptable interference” in domestic affairs and swiftly summoned Kushner to formally express its disapproval. A spokesperson for the French foreign ministry said, “France takes the fight against antisemitism very seriously and does not need external lectures on how to uphold our republican values.”
The diplomatic row comes at a time of growing tension between France, the US, and Israel, as global concerns about rising antisemitic violence intersect with deepening divisions over Middle East policy and domestic social unrest.
While Kushner’s letter has been praised by some Jewish advocacy groups, French officials and civil society leaders called it “misinformed and inflammatory,” citing recent government crackdowns on hate crimes and a dedicated national strategy to fight antisemitism.
Observers say the controversy may further strain relations between Paris and Washington, already fragile due to diverging stances on the Israel-Gaza conflict and broader transatlantic policy differences.
