麻豆传媒映画

The new US ambassador to France is set to begin work in the coming days, after the US Senate approved the controversial appointment of businessman and former attorney Charles Kushner.

Mr Kushner, 71, was approved by 51 votes to 45 in the political chamber, backed by Republicans and one Democrat.

He says he wants to focus mainly on improving business ties - and cutting regulation - between France and the United States but also encouraging France to increase military and defence spending. 

Mr Kushner is ardently pro-Israel, and is said to be also looking to pressure French President Emmanuel Macron into lowering his critical tone levied against the country regarding the current events in Gaza.

Trump family member and former convict

The real estate mogul is not only a close political ally of Donald Trump, but a member of his extended family 鈥� his son, Jared Kushner, is married to Mr Trump鈥檚 daughter Ivanka. 

This though is not the main cause of controversy surrounding his appointment - it is more that Kushner spent two years in prison after pleading guilty to felonies including tax evasion, witness tampering, and illegal campaign contributions. 

This included an attempted sting operation against his brother-in-law, who was helping federal authorities investigate Mr Kushner鈥檚 alleged crimes.

He hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, record the interaction via a hidden camera and send it to his wife (Mr Kushner鈥檚 sister, Esther) as blackmail.

Subsequently debarred from working as an attorney 鈥� but retaining his property empire 鈥� he was fully pardoned by Mr Trump at the end of his first term as president. He donated $1 million to a pro-Trump lobby in the run-up to the 2024 election. 

The appointment of a Trump confidante to a major foreign post has become somewhat of a trend, with several close associates and extended family members being handed similar roles since the president鈥檚 re-election. 

This includes appointments to ambassadorial roles in Greece for Kimberly Guilfoyle (former fianc茅e of Donald Trump Jr), as well as a senior advisor spot in the Middle East for Massad Boulos (father-in-law of Donald Trump鈥檚 daughter Tiffany).

Focus on business 

During his Senate hearing for the role, he does not know 鈥渁bout French art or wine鈥�. [But has] a lot to say about business.鈥� 

鈥淚 am dedicated to building an even stronger relationship between the United States and our oldest ally, France,鈥� he said.

He wants to 鈥渨ork closely with France to bring greater balance to our important economic relationship,鈥� he added. 

Referencing his 鈥減ast mistakes鈥� he claimed he had paid a 鈥渉eavy price鈥� for them, but they would make him 鈥渕ore qualified to do this job.鈥�

On top of this, his close relations to the president may be beneficial to communications between the two powers. 

鈥淭he Trump administration is completely dysfunctional. Having someone close to the White House will allow Paris to get messages across,鈥� said former US ambassador to France G茅rard Araud to media outlet . 

鈥淲hen I was posted in Washington in 2017, senior US officials didn鈥檛 know what Trump would say that day or what he meant by what he said the day before. I constantly had to tell Mr Macron to call the American president,鈥� he added. 

It remains to be seen how successful Mr Kushner鈥檚 nomination will be, however he will have his work cut out to repair the image of the US in the eyes of 麻豆传媒映画, as over a quarter view the North American country as an enemy of France.