Charles Kushner adds to Trump's growing ambassador drama
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US Ambassador to France Charles Kushner delivers a speech for the launch of America 250 in Paris, on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo: Julien de Rosa / AFP via Getty Images
France has moved to cut off Charles Kushner, the U.S. ambassador and the father of President Trump's son-in-law, from meeting government officials after he failed to appear when summoned.
Why it matters: America's diplomatic corps is supposed to manage its relationships abroad. But the Trump administration's ambassadors have repeatedly butted heads with foreign leaders, threatening to strain relationships with allies.
Driving the news: Kushner was summoned after the State Department attributed the beating death of a far-right activist to "[v]iolent radical leftism," commentary the French government perceived as interference. A French official confirmed to Axios that Kushner did not appear.
- France's foreign minister requested Kushner's access to members of its government be blocked, with the official citing an "apparent misunderstanding of the most basic expectations" of the ambassadorship.
- Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told France Info, per a translation, "this will naturally affect his ability to carry out his mission in our country."
- Kushner said he did not wish to interfere in French public debate in a Tuesday call with the foreign minister, multiple outlets reported
Zoom out: It's not the first time Kushner was summoned: His host previously rebuked his allegations that it had not taken "sufficient action" to combat antisemitism.
- The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Here are more incidents of recent diplomatic drama:
Belgium
U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White was summoned earlier this month after he accused the nation of antisemitism on social media.
- He demanded Belgium "DROP THE RIDICULOUS AND ANTI SEMITIC 'PROSECUTION'" over an investigation into circumcision practices and called the health minister "very rude."
Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot called any "suggestion that Belgium is antisemitic … false, offensive, and unacceptable" and summoned White.
Poland
Tom Rose, the U.S. ambassador to Poland, declared earlier this month that the U.S. would have "no further dealings, contacts, or communications" with Włodzimierz Czarzasty, the Parliament's lower house speaker, alleging he made "unprovoked insults" directed at Trump.
- He did not specify what comments he was referring to, but Czarzasty had said Trump did not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize and criticized the president for "disregarding" Polish veterans.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk chastised the hostility, writing on X, per a translation, "Mr. Ambassador Rose, allies should respect each other, not lecture each other."
- Rose mocked Tusk's response, saying, "surely you intended it for … Czarzasty, [whose] despicable, disrespectful and insulting comments about President Trump were so potentially damaging to your government."
Iceland
Former Rep. Billy Long apologized after reportedly joking that Iceland should become the 52nd state. The comment, reported by Politico, sparked outrage within the Nordic country.
- Long told Arctic Today that there was "nothing serious" about what he said.
But Icelanders petitioned their foreign minister to reject his ambassadorship.
Chile
U.S. Ambassador Brandon Judd has openly clashed with outgoing Chilean President Gabriel Boric for his criticism of Trump. In November, Judd held a news conference to challenge Boric.
- The Chilean Foreign Ministry responded in protest, calling Judd's comments "inappropriate and unfortunate," per Bloomberg.
- Boric will soon cede power to far-right José Antonio Kast, who the State Department says will "advance shared priorities" on security, trade and immigration.
Israel
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sparked recent uproar after suggesting to Tucker Carlson that Israel has a right to much of the Middle East under a biblical interpretation.
- "It would be fine if they took it all," Huckabee said of land referenced in the Bible. He noted Israel isn't actively seeking to take over the Middle East, Axios' Herb Scribner reported.
- The U.S. Embassy later said his comments were taken out of context, multiple outlets reported.
Friction point: Arab governments strongly condemned Huckabee's remarks.
- Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry rejected what it called his "irresponsible" comments, and a joint statement from several nations and governing bodies called for "an end to such inflammatory statements."
Go deeper: Denmark summons U.S. ambassador over Trump's renewed Greenland push
