When Donald Trump tapped his son-in-law's father for one of the most prestigious diplomatic posts in the world, the whispers started immediately. People wanted to know if a New Jersey real estate mogul could actually hack it in the gilded halls of the Élysée Palace. Specifically, does Charles Kushner speak French? Honestly, if you were expecting him to stroll into Paris and start quoting Molière in the original tongue, you’re going to be disappointed.
The short answer is a flat no.
Charles Kushner is not fluent in French. He doesn't even really "get by" in the language. Since taking up his post as the U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco in July 2025, his lack of linguistic chops has been a major talking point in both Washington and Paris. Usually, ambassadors to France are either career diplomats who’ve spent years in the region or wealthy political appointees who at least brushed up on their bonjour before the Senate hearings. Kushner? He's a different breed. He's a businessman who speaks the language of deals, not the language of Voltaire.
The Reality of the "Language Barrier" in Paris
It’s kinda fascinating how much we care about this. For decades, the U.S. sent people like Pamela Harriman or Felix Rohatyn to Paris—people who were basically "couramment" (fluent). They could navigate a dinner party without an earpiece.
Kushner isn't doing that.
During his confirmation hearings and his first few months in office, it became glaringly obvious that he relies heavily on translators. In late 2025, he gave a pretty spicy interview to TIME France where he tackled the rise of antisemitism in the country. He didn't do it in French. He did it in English. He even told the interviewer that he doesn't "pretend to be the best diplomat."
That’s a huge admission.
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Basically, he's leaning into the "straight-talking American" persona. While former French ambassador to the U.S. Gérard Araud openly mocked Kushner's lack of preparedness on social media, Kushner doesn't seem to care. He views his job through the lens of policy and "the truth" rather than linguistic finesse. If you watch his press conferences alongside Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, he’s the guy in the suit waiting for the English translation to finish before he makes his point.
Does Charles Kushner Speak French at All?
You might find a video of him saying "Merci" or "Enchanté," but that’s about the extent of it. There is no evidence in his academic or professional background that he ever studied the language.
Let's look at his education:
- New York University: BA and MBA.
- Hofstra University: JD (Law degree).
Neither of these institutions required him to master a Romance language to succeed in the New Jersey and New York real estate markets. He spent his life building a multi-billion dollar empire, Kushner Companies, and navigating the legal system. None of that required knowing how to order a croissant in a Parisian café.
Why the French are Upset (and Why It’s Not Just About French)
It's not just that he can't speak the language; it's the vibe he brings to the role. In August 2025, Kushner did something that is almost unheard of for a sitting ambassador. He wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal addressed to President Emmanuel Macron, calling out the French government for not doing enough to combat antisemitism.
Macron was furious.
The French foreign ministry actually summoned Kushner for a formal rebuke. They called his comments "unacceptable." In the world of high-level diplomacy, if you’re going to criticize your host country, you usually do it behind closed doors—and you definitely don’t do it in a foreign newspaper in a language the local public might not even read.
For the French elite, the fact that Charles Kushner doesn't speak French is just the cherry on top of a very "un-diplomatic" sundae. They see it as a sign of disrespect. To them, the U.S. is saying, "We’re sending a guy who doesn't know your history, doesn't know your language, and is going to tell you how to run your country."
What Languages Does He Know?
If we’re talking about his heritage, that’s where things get more interesting. Charles is the son of Joseph and Rae Kushner, Holocaust survivors who came to America from the USSR (modern-day Belarus) in 1949.
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Growing up in a Modern Orthodox Jewish household in Elizabeth, New Jersey, he was surrounded by:
- English: His primary language and the language of his business.
- Yiddish/Hebrew: Given his deep ties to Jewish philanthropy and his upbringing, he has a functional understanding of Hebrew and Yiddish, though he's rarely heard speaking them in public.
He even named schools after his parents—the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy and the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School. His cultural identity is rooted in the "Bielski partisans" history and the Jewish experience in Eastern Europe, not the secular, Gallic traditions of France.
Can You Be a Good Ambassador Without the Language?
Honestly, it depends on who you ask.
Supporters of the Trump administration argue that the job of an ambassador isn't to blend in; it's to advance American interests. They’d say Kushner is a "tremendous business leader" who knows how to get things done. If he needs to tell Macron something, he’ll say it. He doesn't need to conjugate verbs to deliver a message from the White House.
On the flip side, critics argue that diplomacy is 90% nuance. If you can’t read the local papers or understand the subtext of a conversation at a gala, you’re essentially flying blind. You’re relying on what your staff tells you.
The Takeaway for Your Search
If you came here wondering if Charles Kushner is secretly a Francophile, he isn't. He is a 71-year-old real estate developer from New Jersey who found himself in Paris because of his family ties and his loyalty to Donald Trump.
He speaks English. He speaks "real estate." He speaks "New York." But as for French? He's probably as reliant on Google Translate (or his state department translators) as any other tourist in the 8th Arrondissement.
Next Steps for You:
If you're following the diplomatic drama in Paris, you should look into the specific contents of the "Macron Letter" from August 2025. It explains a lot more about why the relationship is so tense right now than any language barrier ever could. You can also look up the transcripts of his Senate confirmation hearings from early 2025 to see how he defended his lack of diplomatic experience.