France Pushes Back After US Envoy’s Letter on Anti-Semitism

France has summoned US Ambassador Charles Kushner after he published an open letter accusing Paris of failing to do enough to stop anti-Semitic violence. The unusually blunt move highlights just how tense the transatlantic relationship has become when it comes to Israel, Palestine, and free expression in Europe.

Kushner, writing in The Wall Street Journal, went after President Emmanuel Macron’s government for its criticism of Israel and its support for recognising a Palestinian state. “Public statements haranguing Israel and gestures toward recognition of a Palestinian state embolden extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish life in France,” Kushner wrote. He added, “In today’s world, anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism – plain and simple.”

Paris wasn’t having it. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs fired back quickly, calling the allegations “unacceptable” and reminding Kushner that diplomats are not supposed to interfere in the internal matters of sovereign states. France insisted it is “fully committed” to fighting anti-Semitism — but also pointed out that recognising Palestine is not the same thing as tolerating hatred.

“Furthermore, [the comments] do not live up to the quality of the transatlantic relationship between France and the United States,” the ministry said.

Translation: this isn’t just an angry op-ed, it’s a diplomatic headache.

The US State Department, however, backed its man. Spokesperson Tommy Pigott praised Kushner as “doing a great job advancing our national interests.” That line will do little to calm French officials who see the letter as heavy-handed interference.

And then there’s Kushner himself. The ambassador is already controversial: he served two years in federal prison for tax evasion, witness tampering, and fraud before being pardoned by Donald Trump. Now, barely a month into his Paris posting, he’s at the center of a diplomatic storm.

For Macron’s government, this is about more than one ambassador: it’s about France’s right to set its own policy on Israel and Palestine without being publicly lectured. For Washington, it’s another sign that under Trump, US diplomacy is going to be louder, brasher, and far less cautious.

The timing doesn’t help. France is already under pressure at home, facing criticism over its stance on Israel’s war in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed. Macron is trying to walk a line between defending Israel’s right to security and acknowledging growing calls for Palestinian statehood. Kushner’s letter only makes that balancing act harder.